Posted on 09/26/2001 6:16:57 PM PDT by AM2000
Canada's commercial airlines pilots are unwilling to carry any firearms with them on board the plane.
They say they are pilots and not gunfighters and therefore they wouldn't carry firearms in their cockpits.
Air Canada Pilots Association, comprising of 3,600 members said despite support from the US-based Air Line Pilots Association, they have now been forced to consider ways of defending 'the cockpit at all costs against attackers', that they 'are not keen on the idea' of carrying arms in the cockpit.
"In a word, no, it's not our position that Air Canada pilots be armed," said Peter foster, ACPA expert on safety and security.
"What are you going to do, turn a cockpit into an armed fortress? .... And in an emergency the pilot is supposed to be flying the plane, not fighting a battle," he added.
Foster suggested that the Canadian government should consider sending trained officers on board the planes in case the threat of suicide hijackers is great enough to warrant armed protection on planes.
"If a security threat is felt by our authorities to be so serious as to require armed presence on aircraft then, by all means, the government can make the decision of providing armed escorts on aircraft," he added.
Informed sources said Canadian government has already started putting on board flight armed marshals, and it could soon be extended to all flights within Canada and out of the country.
The Canadian Pilots Association continues to reject the idea of letting its members carry guns because of the dangers of weapons on planes.
"What would happen if a pilot was relieved of those weapons by the terrorists? What happens if the weapon discharges and it punctures the pressurised aircraft?" asked CPA's chairman, Captain Raymond Hall.
Canadian Transport Minister David Collenette echoing the sentiments of the pilots said, "We're really not moving in the direction of having armed personnel in any guise on airplanes."
Collenette has, however, already ordered that cockpit would be locked as soon as the plane doors are closed and will be opened only after plane exit doors are opened.
If they come from the Air Force, why can't they use firearms? Pilots have to meet basic physical/mental fitness requirements (I hope!), they are already nearly the perfect profession to start handing guns to (at least to the ones who want them). Just have them train for a few hours a month on the range, and then a few hours a year of hand-to-hand combat training. They don't have to be commandos, just good enough to drop four terrorists with a hi-cap pistol at close range.
"Peace in our time," eh?
They must think themselves truck drivers hauling cargo.
What air line do they run so I can stay off it.
Sheesh... Just stay as inoffensive as you can Canada. Be so nice and sincere and sweet that no one will ever consider you an enemy.
Is there a sign at the border the says, " Welcome to the Great White North - check your manhood at the door!!"?
They forgot to say the most important thing, they are weanies! Friends in Calgary have a strapping young son who must play badminton in school, because football is considered a high risk sport.
The pilots could always use their dreaded cushions on any terrorists.
It hasn't taken a position of responsibility, as far as international affairs are concerned, since WWII.
It's an very admirable nation of school teachers.
We can pretty much blow off Canada as a serious partner in international affairs until there is a change in government.
Memo to Canucks: Maybe try electing a PM who has a smaller chip on his shoulder and/or less of a speech defect.
WOW. I never thought of that before! Here, all this time I've been thinking "what happens if a pilot was relieved of his AIRPLANE (read cruise missle) by terrorists?"
Silly me!
Oh well, the worst that could happen is a planeful of French Canadans hits a glacier... I guess as long as none of the debris crosses the US border they should do as they wish...
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.