[TankerKC]

Been there...same question. I'm just curious if anyone else has hand carried a weapon on a commercial charter...or AMC (MAC) flight for that matter.

[nhoward14]

Wartime procedures in effect perhaps?

[demlosers]

I've seen them get on AMC flights with M16 rifles in hand, and I think they do the same for commercial charter flights that head to the MiddleEast.

[Brandybux]

I'm just curious if anyone else has hand carried a weapon on a commercial charter.

I have.

In January 1970, I was returning to Nam after an emergency family leave. I was routed through Treasure Island in San Francisco, whereupon I was chosen to escort two AWOLs back to Okinawa. Among my guard-duty issue was a .45 pistol, with ammo.

We flew a regular commercial flight from San Francisco to Honolulu, where I delivered the AWOLs to the brig, while we waited passage on a civilian charter. At the gate, I informed the attendants I was armed, showed the orders I carried, and they told me I would need to surrender the pistol to the captain upon boarding.

We boarded first, and I surrendered the pistol to the captain. After landing, we deplaned last, and the captain returned the pistol to me as we departed the aircraft.

A similar procedure was followed on the civilian charter from Honolulu to Okinawa. Times have changed.

[ladtx]

I've seen news reports on TV with pictures of units boarding civilian airplanes with weapons.