Senator Tells TSA: Arm Pilots or Lose Funding

Cybercast News Service. ^ | April 02, 2004 | Robert B. Bluey

[tcuoohjohn]

This not an evasive maneuvering. Evasive maneuvers are ACM and Anti-SAM tactics. This is just basic physics. You can't do squat when you are zero g. You can't do squat when you are at neg 1.5 G and bouncing off the overhead bins. You cant' do squat when you come off the bins and slam into the seats upside down at pos 2.5 G's. What you can do is puke your guts out and crap your pants. Your only alternative is to stay strapped in. Either way you ARE gonna get very sick.

[null and void]

But I guarantee you you will send that pilot a Christmas card and a bottle of his favorite scotch for the rest of your life.

I expect so. After the suit is settled, I'll certainly be able to afford it!

[KC_for_Freedom]

Either way you ARE gonna get very sick.

I agree this could be done, but this does not mean the copilot should not be pulling the heat. Whats the harm in having as many tools as possible?

Also I am certain the pilots in 9-11 did not have the 1 second you postulate. By the time the were aware of strangers in the cockpit, their assailents were on them. (I am not sure you can get that much inertia moving in one second either, but I am an aerospace engineer, not a comercial pilot, so I will defer to them). I will grant that with enough time and everyone but the terrorists strapped in, the pilot could make life misserable for them. While they are puking on the cabin floor, the co-pilot could put a bullet between each of their eyes, (If I were on the flight I would volunteer for clean up duty.) Cheers.

[silverleaf]

Be sure not to approach the dead terrorists until the pilot has turned off the "no smoking" sign

[neverdem]

LOL

[KangarooJacqui]

Why was I pinged to this?

I TOTALLY agree with all the points you made!

I only wish this applied to Qantas pilots as well.

[hoosierham]

Apparently you love roller coasters....but not rationality.

The pilots should never have been disarmed.

[Robert A Cook PE]

Nice thought.

Yeah, right.

[Robert A Cook PE]

Indirectly, yes.

Mineta's ATTITUDE about arming pilots has permeated the entire TSA.

It's whole goal has been to try to delay, disrupt, intimidate, and stall the pilots, the program, and the process.

They are preventing former military pilots (many of who have flown with nuclear weapons and conventional bombs for years) from carrying a weapon, but demand that TSA ground employees be able to stroll through the gates armed.

[yoe]

Transportation Security Administration has hog tied the pilots - the procedure for a pilot to use his weapon is farcical...to leave the cockpit to use the Lu is farcical...gun must never be seen by passengers...gun must remain in box if cabin door is open...if cabin door is open?...if attendant enters cockpit - gun must be placed in box first...

Senators Bunning, Boxer and the rest may threaten all they want because what they want is just plain stupid. Imagine a cop going on duty without his weapon on his person or at the very least handy. Politicians! What these people don't know or even care about finding out before they start screeching at the top of their lungs could fill a black hole in space!!

[tcuoohjohn]

Not a jury in all of Christendom who would find a pilot or company negligent for bringing the souls home alive.

You might even get a jury that has a sense of justice and finds the pilot and company guilty of negligence and awards the plaintiff one dollar in compensation and one or those tiny airline liquor bottles.

[null and void]

LOL! NO man's life, liberty, or property is safe as long as court is in session.

Your naïveté is refreshing.

I guess you've never heard of the deep pockets rule...

[Redbob]

I think the "F-Troop mentality" will always dominate the BATF - that bunch of FBI, Marshalls Service, and Border Patrol rejects.