If an airplane acquired a few bullet-holes in flight, it could probably be safely flown to its scheduled destination (though it would be prudent to land at the earliest reasonable opportunity, to keep the lawyers at bay, if nothing else).
Posted on 04/10/2014 4:54:59 AM PDT by BarnacleCenturion
Sen. Rand Paul says he wants “100 percent” of pilots carrying weapons, as it’s the best way to prevent another attack like Sept. 11, 2001.
“The goal of my bill is to have 100 percent of American pilots armed, because I think it’s a very cost effective, it’s the most cost effective way of deterring another attack on our planes,” Paul said on Fox News’s “Hannity” on Wednesday night.
The Kentucky Republican says he supports recent calls to allow concealed weapons on military bases in the wake of the recent shooting at Fort Hood, but he is dealing with another concealed carry issue.
“I’m concerned about what is the most cost-effective way of preventing another 9/11: I want all pilots to be armed,” Paul said. “The president has zeroed this out of his budget. He’s advocated for getting rid of the program. And when I talk to pilots — I’m at airports all the time. Pilots come up to me all the time and say it’s too hard to get a permit and to keep up the permit.”
(Excerpt) Read more at politico.com ...
I don’t know if our guard is more relaxed now. I took a flight from Dallas to Portland maybe 2 or 3 years after 9/11. The door to the cockpit was wide open for part of the flight. And it seems the only people the TSA are interested in frisk searching are little kids and old ladies.
We need guns in the home and on our hips first.
Why not require EVERYONE ON POST/BASE (except basic trainees) TO OPEN CARRY A SIDEARM AT ALL TIMES WHILE ON POST?
Pilots don’t want to put up with a lot of government nonsense, but we do. At least this is demonstrably beneficial.
Why not K-Bar Knives, Nun Chucks, Brass Knuckles, Tasers,
A couple bullet holes are not going to depressurise an airplane came
Not so sure this would help. First of all, guns would have to be in a lock box, probably also having a trigger lock.
Then the ammunition would have to be stored separately, in another lock box. It would require TWO pilots to turn their lockbox keys at exactly the right moment to open.
Then they would have to check the manual, explaining the correct procedure for loading and firing the weapon.
No offence to pilots, these would be FAA regulations.
Who is "their"?
They should all be trained and if they are not willing they should be fired.
The pilots are responsible for the security inside the airplane during the flight. There is no one else, unless you want to arm the flight attendants.
That's why all passengers that want to carry firearms on the flight should arm them with prefrag ammo like Glaser safety slugs. I imagine the airport gift shops would charge to much for them so passengers would need to plan ahead a little.
I’m no aviation expert by any means, but I have always been under impression that a bullet breaching a cabin at altitude would depressurize the cabin, and/or the cockpit.
But if you are into this kind of thing, I would be interested to know more.
Yep, I think having them rather obvious, and ominous, is the way to go.
Screw confiscating the shampoo and frisking wheelchair bound old ladies and handicapped kids.
If they’re not willing to use lethal force against a lethal threat to their airplane, their passengers and those on the ground they shouldn’t be commercial pilots.
An Aloha Airlines airplane that developed a sunroof in-flight survived; a bullet hole could be patched with a section of a beer can and duct tape and the airplane returned to service until its next scheduled maintenance.
Interesting…..how quickly would the bullet hole have to have the can and tape applied - in the instance of a breach during a scuffle?
You need a very large hole to depressurize a cabin that size.
Pressurization in an airplane is actually negative pressure.
That is, more air is pumped in to create an equal pressure within the cabin than escapes.
An airplane isn’t leak proof before a bullet hole. It actually leaks through several areas such as seams.
Now, if you open a hole the size of a door the pressurization isn’t going to work at all.
Thanks….you have “ejumakated me” some on this issue…...
If an airplane acquired a few bullet-holes in flight, it could probably be safely flown to its scheduled destination (though it would be prudent to land at the earliest reasonable opportunity, to keep the lawyers at bay, if nothing else).
Hmm…at what altitude did the plane lose part of the fusilage?
Probably around 20000 ft, as I recall.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.