FLASH: BA flights cancelled by refusal of British pilots to fly with armed marshals on board

drudge report ^ | 1/2/2004 | Drudge

[hadrian]

FLASH: Cancellation of British Airways flights is not in response to U.S. safety concerns, but rather is being prompted by refusal of British pilots to fly with armed marshals on board... Developing...

[expatpat]

......with some child itching to see what a Sidewinder will do

LOL. You mean 'teenager', I think.

[omega_c]

*coughbloodyfreakinstupidcough* first the french, now the brits, whos next? canada?

[omega_c]

i think either 18 or 21 is the youngest age to be let into the armed forces, on average.

[alrea]

mechanical trouble

[expatpat]

Well, 18 and 19 still counts as 'teenager', but my comment was tongue-in-cheek, anyway, just an amusing thought by jonascord.

[biffalobull]

only one way you can stop me!

Could you please give me your phone number and address, I'm new in town and need some direction. Sincerely Biff.

[Winniesboy]

You're right. The story about the British pilots has been widely misreported from the outset. At no point did the British pilots object in principle to armed marshals, and any imputation of cowardice etc is way out of order. The detailed statement of BALPA made it clear their only misgivings were technical and procedural. What they objected to was a sudden unilateral statement by the British government that armed marshals would be introduced, without any discussion with or even information to the pilots about the protocols and procedures - such as the command relationship between pilot and marshal, nature of weapons and ammunition, procedures to be adopted by pilot if the weapon is used etc etc. All they got was a 'trust us - it'll be OK' from the government.

Now anyone who's ever flown a plane knows that procedures of this sort are what a pilot's job is mostly about - procedures rigorously and systematically applied to minimize risk. They're all the more important, for obvious reasons, in this sort of context. It was entirely reasonable for the British pilots to expect similarly strict procedures for this, and to be cautious if they weren't forthcoming - in fact it would have been irresponsible not to. In the event, their reservations have been satisfied very quickly, and agreement already reached with Virgin, for instance.

[biffalobull]

Never have so few run so quickly from such nothing.

How is this for a theory.?

The terrorists are keeping up the BS chatter to keep the US on orange (whatever) alert.

I understand it is costing the US, one billion a week for all the extra security.

How long can this country pay this tremendus cost. It is costing the terrorist nothing to keep everybody paranoid.IMHO

[Search4Truth]

Only cowards, fools and criminals are afraid of good men with guns.

[omega_c]

well, the answer is, the US CANT afford this! didnt the government spend over 80 billion dollars for "operation desert storm 2"?

[Search4Truth]

There is no way we can protect ourselves from a WMD that is no greater in size than a briefcase. If someone wants to attack us, they can. We can't stop them.

Isn't the only thing protecting us from another attack, the certainty in the terrorist's minds, that no matter who they are or where they hide, we will come for them? And that as soon as they start to doubt our resolve, is when they will attack us again?

That impression of resolve is weakened by the Liberals everyday. If we are attacked again, it will be because of them. On that day, Muslims will not be the only ones to suffer the repercussions.

[Eala]

If true, we should present BA with a choice: Immediately fire all reluctant pilots, or your certificate to fly to or within the United States will be revoked. No flights to America ever. There are several U.S. airlines that would love to pull some planes out of mothballs and take over those routes.

I would hope so. I don't like flying on BA. Give me NWA/KLM any day.

[longtermmemmory]

If this is true, this has to be the first nominiees for stupid-employee-of-the-year. Then again doesn't BA get gov. subsidies?

[Destro]

Fly Air France!

[GregoryFul]

Who says that a terrorist couldn't pose as an air marshall? Perhaps the pilots would rather be in control - let them be armed!

[Mad_Tom_Rackham]

No thanks.

[Destro]

Fly British Airways then! Dare ya!

[dennisw]

Another honorable Chinese saying:
Man who fly upside down get in crack up.

[dennisw]

Fly Egypt Air!! (An old fashioned Stalinist bureaucracy state controlled airline)

[Nebr FAL owner]

It depends are we talking a typical British Bobbie that can barely figure out which end of a gun the bullet comes out , or are we talking the stone cold professionals of "Pagoda" troop of the Special Air Service?