Do you feel safer knowing your pilot may have a gun? (Not a poll)

[sfecap]

Just wondering.

Are armed airline pilots a good idea?

[Fenris]

1. I'd feel safer knowing my pilot wasn't drunk

But I'll take what I can get.

[Doug Decker]

2. I'm not flying...

which is the best way to feel safer. I know many others don't have that option.

[MercutioATC]

3. I'm more worried about an accidental discharge than being hijacked.

Why don't they just SOLVE the problem and provide adequate cockpit security?

[sfecap]

6. Roger that...

I'm more worried about my co pilot shooting me. LOL

[MercutioATC]

12. You're a pilot? I can't believe I missed that..

Based where?

[sfecap]

28. Yeah...see my PM.

We've talked, I'm sure...

[Soloflecks]

4. Holes and airplanes

do not go well together. I can understand why the pilot might feel better, but I don't think gun toting pilots make the passengers feel safer.

[MaineDem]

7. I agree with you

I don't understnad how the pilot with a gun in her cockpit will make me safer in the back. It doesn't make me feel any safer; quite the opposite.

[-..__...]

17. Consider the alternative...

of having an armed fighter jet shooting the aircraft down?
Now do you feel any safer? :)

[ScreamingMeemie]

38. Whoopsy daisy, posted in the wrong spot.

;(

[noonwitch]

5. Valium is the only thing that makes me feel safe on a plane

I hate flying-my hate for it predates 9-11. It's not fear, it's that I don't like the pressure.

[punpirate]

8. Uh, lessee... Bush was a pilot...

... and he has lots of guns available to him.

Rumsfeld was a pilot, and he has lots of guns available to him.

Nope, probably not a good idea. *smile*

[olacan]

9. I would

like flying with a pilot that has been trained and armed to defend any plane he was in charge of.

[ProudGerman]

10. I feel less safe

As should everybody when wannabe cowboys are handed loaded weapons. And that's exactly what these pilots who wanted them are, wannabe cowboys. A more effective option of barricading the cockpit was offered, but they said no. They want to pack heat and play "hero".

Do these pilots have delusions of firefights at 30,000 feet with terorists? I always wonder when they talk about needing them, just who would fly the plane while they are "shooting it out". How many people will get sucked out the airplane when "Doc Holliday" puts a hole or two in the fuselage while he's "combating terra-ists"?


Just another part of that bullshit theory that more bullets flying around innocent people will make them safer.

[-..__...]

18. Getting "sucked out of the airplane"...

only happens when one is shooting at a Gremlin out on the wing.
IOW, the rapid decompression and the aircraft headed for certain doom
thing only happens in movies (recall the airliner that lost a significant portion of the fuselage but still landed safely in Hawaii?)

If a passenger aircraft is that fragile that a few bullet holes could bring it down, then flying is a lot more dangerous than we've been led to believe. Besides, the ammo being used is frangible; meaning it won't penetrate the fuselage.

[Racenut20]

11. Does AWOL carry a gun when he flies those jets to the carrier?

[rbnyc]

13. No, I'd feel less safe.

We're saving folks the trouble of having to smuggle a gun onto the flight, for one thing. Also, I just don't think it's a very safe environment for a gun discharge.

[Zero Gravitas]

14. Right

making it easier to get a gun onboard an aircraft is not a good idea.

[TEXASYANKEE]

15. I would feel much safer

knowing that all baggage and cargo was checked for bombs. There was a story in today's Dallas ABC website about a young man who mailed himself from NJ to Dallas recently (a journy of 2 days). If he can do it, what's stopping a terrorist from downing a plane that way? It scares me so much I can't even think of it.

[Kamika]

16. Yep i do

For some reason i do feel alot safer knowing that.

Better a hole in the cabin and the hijacker dead then the pilots and everyone else dead and the plane crashed in a building

[VermontDem2004]

23. So pilots now have to be police officers?

I don't think that would always be the case. The pilot could be dead immediately while looking around the airplane for the gun. A terrorist knowing the pilot has a gun goes for it and uses it for his advantage. So many things could go wrong, and if I know a pilot has a gun, I am not flying. DU pilots can you help me with this one? Is it possible a terrorist becomes a pilot, gains trust and is given a gun? Boy things can go wrong that way, I think if we hightened security and NO GUNS get on the plane we will be much much more safer.

[Kamika]

26. No hes not supposed to be a police officer

hes not supposed to be a police officer.. but hes not supposed to get hijacked either..I got a gun too, and im not a police officer.. its "just in case"

[trof]

19. I don't think so. Retired airline pilot.

Retired TWA here.
1. I hired on to be a pilot and get folks from point A to point B safely. Oh yeah, and for the bucks, too. Definitely for the bucks.
I know that more than aviation skills may be necessary to get passengers safely between points now, nevertheless I didn't hire on to be a cop.

If you need a cop, hire a cop. Send him along with me. But that's not the airline way. That would mean taking on the care and feeding of a whole new class of employees. Why not get a twofer and save the money and just hand me a gun? Are you going to pay me a cop's salary in addition to my pilot's salary? Naw, I didn't think so. Is that cold? So be it. Airlines are one of the most bottom line oriented businesses I know of.

2. In my 30+ year career I flew with a few guys (a very few, but some) who would make me very nervous if they were armed. Due to the nature of the job and the training most of us are pretty stable individuals, but not all. Not every single one. And then there are things that just "come up" in life like divorces and deaths and terminal disease that can leave you, at least for a short time, a little unstrung.

Most pilots are control freaks to one degree or another. When you think about it that's what we get paid for; to be in control (and stay in control) of a situation, no matter what. Not to get too melodramatic here, but I always felt burdened by the life and death authority I had. It was an awesome responsibility for me. But I did know guys who relished it, who lived for it. I think of them armed and just looking for an opportunity to put that training and hardware to use. When you have a hammer, everything looks like a nail to you.

3. The logistics alone are (to me) mind boggling. Do I keep the gun on me at all times while away on a 5 day trip? Or does the weapon stay in the cockpit? In which case there has to be an armed guard IN the cockpit whenever the aircraft is on the ground. More expense. Will there be a staffed arms locker in every airport where we check them in and out? More expense. See (1.) above.

If the gun is my personal weapon, what do I do with it on a 24 hour layover in New York or London? (Can I even HAVE a gun in London?) Put it in the hotel safe? Keep it in my room? Does this tell hotel burglars "Don't miss the pilot's room"? Do I keep it on my person at all times? Guess I'll have to pass on going out for a few beers and dinner. Now I'm a prisoner in my own room. Do I keep it in my nav kit (that boxy looking "suitcase" we all carry with the charts and manuals in it)? Once my copilot had his stolen from a hotel lobby in Amsterdam. It's the same type of case diamond dealers carry. I'll bet THAT thief was disappointed when he saw what he had.

The only good thing I see in this is that not all pilots will elect to be armed, so potential hijackers are playing Russian roulette. Maybe a dozen or so will be enough. For security reasons we'll probably never know how the airlines are handling all this.

[MercutioATC]

21. As an ATC, I completely agree.

We're not allowed to have weapons in our facility. Hell, we have security a checkpoint to make SURE we don't have weapons. WHY is it suddenly a good idea to arm pilots (in an environment where a misused gun could do MUCH more damage)?

[trof]

27. Cleveland Center?

Just a guess from your profile.
I worked at Boston Center for a couple of years (as a scab I guess, god help me) when I got furloughed from my pilot's job due to Reagan's firing of the striking controllers.

I was never a complainer about controllers, but I sure got a new respect for them and what they do after working there.
:hi:

[MercutioATC]

33. Yep, Cleveland Center..

Don't worry, I hired in in 1991 so I don't have a big chip about the whole Reagan thing (though I refuse to call Reagan National anything other than "National").

:hi:

[VermontDem2004]

22. I have to agree with everything trof said

[trof]

24. Damn, I like it when folks agree with me.

Especially smart people like VermontDem.
You would happen to be a Dean Demon wouldja?
:-)

[VermontDem2004]

25. yeah

:toast: I like it especially when people call me smart. :-)

[TreasonousBastard]

20. I think it's a non-issue.

It adds to the potential for accidents in the cockpit, but otherwise I can't see it having an effect. A pilot, particularly one trained in flying planes, not armed combat, has to find the gun, assess the threat, and avoid being "neutralized" himself by a hijacker who assumes he his armed. And after that, manage to subdue who knows how many assailants and not throw lead into the console, or blow holes in the fuselage or passengers who are by now in confused hysteria. All this while the the guy in the right seat is flying the plane during this critical time.

I doubt such a situation would end well.

If you really want to protect the airplane from hijackers by force, you need trained people in the cabins. Either keep air marshalls in the air, or train flight attendants to do the job.

(Recruit flight attendants from Special Forces?)

[Parche]

29. NO

Stronger cockpit doors are the answer
I dont want some crazy pilot with a gun

[sfecap]

36. If the pilot is crazy, the gun is the least of your problem...

:-)

[Interrobang]

30. No. I feel less safe...and my dad the pilot agrees with me.

When they took it to a union referendum here (IFALPA, Canada), the pilots voted against agitating to carry guns on planes. While a gunshot probably won't cause too much damage to the actual plane, the danger posed by having a gun already on board -- where a would-be highjacker could steal it before the pilot got it out, perhaps -- through theft, accidental discharge, or other mishaps, is just too great. When the topic came up in conversation around the dinner table, my dad was visibly angry about the notion. If they're really serious about improving in-flight security, maybe they should get some tips from El Al, which has, I'm told, some awe-inspiring security features. I'm sure the Israeli aircraft security professionals would be more than willing to help...

[SPICYHOT]

31. Never safe with a gun

in the plane or a car or wherever.I don't think that i pilot can do his job and stop the bad guys.
It could be in holywood only.

[Booberdawg]

32. I just want to know he's sober, I don't care if he has a gun

otherwise, if my name's on the bullet there is nothing I can do about it anyway.

[nothingshocksmeanymore]

34. You??? With a gun??? Oy!

:evilgrin: ;-)

[sfecap]

37. Not me. Never. Ever. I promise!

I will never permit a gun on my flightdeck.
I'm absolutely against it.

[nothingshocksmeanymore]

42. Good..I'd feel better abour Air Marshalls

[DemoTex]

35. I'm against it, basically.

If I am the captain, there will be no guns in my cockpit. Period. End-of-discussion.

Capt. Mac

[rusk2003]

39. YES And Yes

Iwould feel much safer and they are the perfect idea. If some one is breaking into the cockpit they are not going to be complaining about their lunch to the Captain and Co Piolet. That is why firearms and lethal force must be used. They also need to give the Flight Attendants stun guns and Mace.

[ScreamingMeemie]

40. There is no way to ensure safety unless we all fly naked and every bag

is dumped and checked, which is impossible. So I guess I would say, I don't think it makes a difference. I will just hope this isn't his first flight. ;)

[rusk2003]

41. No but we can

Fly in our underwhere or Swimsuits. Come to think of it I did read about a clothing opitional flight in the newaspaper a few months agp.