POLL: Armed Pilots

Seattle Post-Intelligencer ^ | 6/10/03 | Seattle P-I

[NonValueAdded]

In one of the USA Today stories post-9/11, we heard from one of the flight crews who, upon learning of the hijackings via radio, barricaded themselves in the flight deck with a beverage cart while the flight engineer / co-pilot sat there with a bottle of Chardonnay (vintage unknown) ready to defend the cockpit.

One of the claims against arming the flight crew is that we don't want to distract them from flying the plane. Well, if that is true, then either remove all the wine from first class or give them a pistol so they actually be free to concentrate on flying the plane. A pistol is a tool and it is going to work better that a bottle of wine or a handful of nips.

[farmfriend]

voted and bumped

[ChefKeith]

Before voting at all I would like to know.

Training given to pilot, a competency standard to be obtained.

The FAA has Guidelines already set upStart Here

Ammo to be of a correct type for inside of an Aircraft.Low velocity (sub-sonic)

Protocol on use of said firearm, i.e. to defend the flight deck or to leave the flight deck and attempt to intervene in respect of the incident.

At the pilots discretion.

My understanding in the US a lot of pilots are ex military and should have firearms skills or at the least the aptitude to learn them.

I would say that probably 90+% are ex-military and if they are qualified to fly a plane with a load of passengers then I would definetly TRUST them.

On the other hand I recall a case in the US recently of a couple of pilots who where under the influence. Would I feel comfortable with those two being armed?

I would much prefer a possibly drunk pilot over a terrorist.

So sorry all but without a little more info, the Yes / No debate to my mind at least is not as simple as that

[KiaKaha]

Thank you for the informed reply, in that case yes.

[ChefKeith]

Glad I could be of assistance