The Air Marshal Arts: Dress to Kill, and Keep the Eyes in the Back of Your Head Open

NY Times ^ | 5-25-02 | MATTHEW L. WALD

[Pharmboy]

In another drill, in a "shoot house" where visitors could observe from a bulletproof balcony, three marshals fired semiautomatic pistols, Sig Sauer 229's loaded with .357-caliber rounds, to bring down three hijackers. There is a protocol, firing bullets in sets of three.

"Two to the chest, one upstairs; two to the chest, one upstairs," said Brad Delauter, a senior instructor. The marshals are supposed to be able to fire three shots in 6 seconds; in 15 seconds they are supposed to fire three, reload and fire another three. Their guns, Swiss-designed and German-built, hold 13 rounds but in training are loaded with 3 to require frequent reloading.

I always thought it was one and one, not two and then one. Why two to the chest? More likely immediate stopping power? Any pros out there with an answer? Thanks in advance.

[Terridan]

The chest IS a much easier target, of a moving target... the final "head" shot is the certain, "permanent" shot we all would prefer to see... versus the lengthy court drama of the poor, misguided terrorists.

[cryptical]

The two to the chest, one to the head is called a Mozambique drill. It's supposed to simulate a course of action for a target wearing body armor.

[Bogey78O]

In the sake of diversity I hope they include Americans and legal immigrants in these drills. We need a diverse group to represent America including armed arab sky marshalls. /humor

[Pharmboy]

A Mozambique Drill. Nice. Thanks for the info guys.

[Still Using Air]

"Another part of the training is how to find a bomb in carry-on baggage while the plane is in flight, and where in the passenger cabin to put it to reduce the chance that it will make the plane crash."

  Just a thought, but why can't planes have some sort of chamber area in the bottom of the plane, with an bottom exterior door, and an interior door, that a suspected bomb can be placed in, the interior door closed, and the bottom door opened to release the 'bomb' outside the plane? No loss of cabin pressure that way and bomb-b-gone.

[boris]

"No loss of cabin pressure that way and bomb-b-gone."

Citizens living below and on the flight path might not appreciate the gift.

--Boris

[NerdDad]

I've wondered the same thing--useful for would-be terrorists too. Not being an aero-engineer, I haven't worked out the details of opening and closing the lower hatch. I would think the wind turbulence would make it difficult to purge the compartment if it opens to the bottom of the plane. You wouldn't want a "blow-off" type hatch. Might need it for multiple uses. I am thinking more in the line of a compartment that opens to the back. Kind of a mini version of military cargo plane openings. Hang a small drogue chute on the offending cargo/terrorist and let the wind do the rest.

[Still Using Air]

OK. Simply include a detonating device with the 'parcel', drop it by 'chute, and detonate it somewhere between the plane and the ground? That really doesn't so so hard, does it?

[Still Using Air]

heh... but then again, you'd have a bomb on board at all times.

[The Magical Mischief Tour]

Just a thought, but why can't planes have some sort of chamber area in the bottom of the plane, with an bottom exterior door, and an interior door, that a suspected bomb can be placed in, the interior door closed, and the bottom door opened to release the 'bomb' outside the plane? No loss of cabin pressure that way and bomb-b-gone.

Well… the first thing that jumps into my mind is the fact that this would admit the existence of threats beyond the control of the all knowing all seeing guberment who wants to take away your rights in the name of safety.

Who appoints the former head of the notoriously anti-gun BATF to the TSA and then axes the pilots from carrying guns on the flightdeck and tells us that only guberment can carry on a plane.

Besides, there’s no need for this type of device on a plane… those professional federalized security screeners will catch them all well before they make it aboard. The guberment said so…

TMMT

[stlrocket]

This seems like such a waste of time and money. After all --- how could anyone get past the new "Federalized" Security?

I FEEL SAFER NOW

WHAT - NO BAR-B-QUE CHIPS

[NerdDad]

Was taught this procedure in USAF security training. First shots are to the body mass for stopping/slowing, and because the body is easier to hit. Head shot is the sure-kill in case the assailant is wearing a vest. Even with the vest, two shots to the chest is going to knock them down, make the head easier to hit. I have no doubt we have some folks on FR who can/will provide first hand accounts of the value and limitations of vests in this regard.

[Salgak]

Can you say "pressure-activated trigger" ?? Pressure drops, goes off immediately ? Lots of fuel tanks on the bellies of aircraft. . .

[Erasmus]

heh... but then again, you'd have a bomb on board at all times.

The probablility of a bomb being on board a plane is, say, twenty thousand to one.

Then, the probability of having two bombs on the plane would be four hundred million to one.

Therefore, you should always make sure there's a bomb on the plane.

[gunnut]

Dominate + Intimidate = Control

Pretty much describes the federal government in a nutshell.

[jennyp]

I've wondered the same thing--useful for would-be terrorists too. Not being an aero-engineer, I haven't worked out the details of opening and closing the lower hatch. I would think the wind turbulence would make it difficult to purge the compartment if it opens to the bottom of the plane. You wouldn't want a "blow-off" type hatch. Might need it for multiple uses. I am thinking more in the line of a compartment that opens to the back. Kind of a mini version of military cargo plane openings. Hang a small drogue chute on the offending cargo/terrorist and let the wind do the rest.

Interesting... But simpler still would be a compartment that's heavily reinforced on all sides except the outer skin, so that the blast would become a shaped charge that only blows away that weaker portion of the outer skin. It'd be cheaper - fewer moving parts - but still safer than finding the least-bad part of the passenger cabin in which to have the bomb go off.

[CARepubGal]

When my Sherriff buddy taught me to shoot his Beretta his pattern was one to the head two to the body. Kind of a triangular pattern. Nice gun too.

[VeritatisSplendor]

They looked real except that each was cut off at midthigh so the torso would be in the proper position when propped up on the seat.

Finally solved the leg room problem, I see.

Mrs VS

[boris]

"Finally solved the leg room problem, I see."

In a thousand years, they will dig up an airliner and conclude that we were all four feet tall.

--Boris