FFDO Federal Flight Deck Officer......

[FN FAL]

Since were on the subject, here's a news story I stumbled across...called, "Hero in the Cockpit".

Bill Bonnell joined American Airlines in 1936, and that airline, like others, transported U.S. mail.

"Back in those days, the pilot or co-pilot had to hand-carry the mail from the plane to the terminal," recalled George Patten, 85, a retired American pilot and a friend of Bonnell's. "Postal regulations required that you be armed. We all had to have guns, and American had us buy little .380s."

Bonnell's pistol remained in his flight bag. His widow recalled that he had not removed the weapon in years before the day of the hijacking.

On that day, Bonnell had flown from Fort Worth to Cleveland in the morning and was preparing for the return flight. The plane was carrying almost a full load, 58 passengers, and all had been seated.

Bonnell stopped and spoke to a young mother with two small children seated at the front. He then entered the cockpit and had already locked himself, his co-pilot and the engineer inside when Kuchenmeister approached the airplane ramp.

Police said Kuchenmeister, the oldest of seven children, was a troubled youth who had stolen a pistol and persuaded his 12-year-old brother to run away from home with him. He hatched his plan to hijack a plane earlier in the day, but once at the airport, the 12-year-old declined to accompany him.

So, alone, clad in dirty denim pants and a leather jacket, Kuchenmeister left his little brother in the terminal and walked out on the tarmac. There he pushed past an airline agent and was headed up the stairs to the plane when the agent demanded his ticket.

"This is my ticket," the burly youth reportedly said, and pointed the pistol at the agent.

The agent retreated, and at the entrance to the plane, Kuchenmeister told a stewardess he needed to see the pilot. Thinking he was part of the ground crew, she opened the cockpit, where Kuchenmeister, unnoticed by the passengers, stepped into the cramped quarters, closed the door and turned the gun on Bonnell.

"I want to go to Mexico," Kuchenmeister told Bonnell and his crew. "No stops."

Bonnell and the co-pilot attempted to explain to Kuchenmeister that the plane did not have enough fuel to reach Mexico, but the youth would not be deterred.

Finally, flight engineer Bob Young told Kuchenmeister they would take off but that it was necessary to throw a switch behind Kuchenmeister before the plane could taxi.

As the hijacker turned to look for the switch, Bonnell reached into his flight bag with his left hand, removed the pistol, swung around to his right and shot Kuchenmeister. The wounded hijacker then attempted to shoot Bonnell, but his pistol misfired and Bonnell shot him again.

"I shot him in the hip," Bonnell later recalled. "He sagged a bit. I let him have it again, a little higher.

"I had a maniac on my plane. We had women and children. What the hell could a guy do?"

Kuchenmeister was taken to a hospital, and Bonnell, the only qualified American pilot in Cleveland at the time, flew the plane back to Fort Worth. In midflight, he received word from Cleveland that the hijacker was only 15 and that he had died.

When Bonnell stepped from the plane, reporters described him as ashen and shaking.

"Bill told me later that the first thing he thought about when he was reaching for the gun was that woman and her two children at the front of the plane," Jean Bonnell said. "I said, `Why didn't you shoot him in the head with the second shot?'

"Bill said, `Because I didn't want to kill him.' "

 

[njcapt]

Neat story, but if anybody tries to get into MY flight deck I'm putting three into his ten ring. Hopefully, all in the same entrance wound.

 

[ultrarunner]

Neat story, but if anybody tries to get into MY flight deck I'm putting three into his ten ring. Hopefully, all in the same entrance wound.

If you had the right kind of door, you wouldn't need that gun.

And I'm not sorry I won't be sitting next to you when you try to grab that weapon and it accidentially discharges.....

...but naturally not because of your lack of experience in weapon retention skills...

No thanks.

 

[TheRaven]

If you had the right kind of door, you wouldn't need that gun.

And I'm not sorry I won't be sitting next to you when you try to grab that weapon and it accidentially discharges.....

...but naturally not because of your lack of experience in weapon retention skills...

No thanks.

Thinking like this is the problem....by nature, a door only works when its closed. As soon as you open it, all the security it affords you is gone. Guess where my hand goes when we are getting drinks or the FO leaves to take a leak...weapon retention and readiness for whatever happens are paramount when the door opens....someone tries to force their way past the FA with the door open they are going home in a bag (if I perceive they have intent, opportunity and ability of course). Not sure how much you can train to retain the weapon, but it is covered before they turn you loose from FTETC.

The training in Artesia is excellent, I'd highly recommend it. As far as directions, all that will be taken care of after you get approved to schedule a class.

 

[FN FAL]

And I'm not sorry I won't be sitting next to you when you try to grab that weapon and it accidentially discharges.

Now that you mention it, the shortest arc from where the firearm is kept and the door, is occupied by the opposite pilot. By probably between 1/3 and 1/2 ratio.

 

[Fly_Chick]

Don't forget to try the "Alien Beer" courtesy of Area 54 on your evening jaunts into ROW.

 

[FN FAL]

Don't forget to try the "Alien Beer" courtesy of Area 54 on your evening jaunts into ROW.

yea, but the bad part of having "alien beer", is that them bastages never let you remember it. Not so much as a hangover.

 

[FN FAL]

Neat story, but if anybody tries to get into MY flight deck I'm putting three into his ten ring. Hopefully, all in the same entrance wound.

If anybody tries to get into my flight deck, I'm handing him/her the David Clarks and the keys, winter is coming!

 

[Fly_Chick]

Unfortunatly Alien Beer is not twist off, so TSA prevents you from enjoying it immediately, have to stop at the front desk of the hotel (and if you happen to pass by the Holiday Inn in Roswell send my best to Holly - the hotel cat) yet after FFDO, you can enjoy it...

 

[FN FAL]

Unfortunatly Alien Beer is not twist off, so TSA prevents you from enjoying it immediately, have to stop at the front desk of the hotel (and if you happen to pass by the Holiday Inn in Roswell send my best to Holly - the hotel cat) yet after FFDO, you can enjoy it...

Hotels have cats?

 

[erj-145mech]

Hotels have cats?

You've never heard of a "Cat House"?

 

[atrdriver]

If you had the right kind of door, you wouldn't need that gun.

And I'm not sorry I won't be sitting next to you when you try to grab that weapon and it accidentially discharges.....

...but naturally not because of your lack of experience in weapon retention skills...

No thanks.

A door has to be open sometimes, and no door will keep a determined bad guy out indefinatly. And the chance of an accidental discharge from the type of weapon carried is probably about 1 in 1,000,000. And as far as weapon retention, it is covered, in detail, with many hours spent practicing. In fact, I'd love for you to try to take mine, i bet you'd end up with a broken arm.

You know, if you don't like the FFDO program, then don't apply for it. For those who do, how about giving them a little respect for the time and effort that they VOLUNTEERED? You think it is fun having to deal with the relulations that the FFDO's have to deal with? Grow up.

 

[Jetsetter]

A door has to be open sometimes, and no door will keep a determined bad guy out indefinatly. And the chance of an accidental discharge from the type of weapon carried is probably about 1 in 1,000,000. And as far as weapon retention, it is covered, in detail, with many hours spent practicing. In fact, I'd love for you to try to take mine, i bet you'd end up with a broken arm.

You know, if you don't like the FFDO program, then don't apply for it. For those who do, how about giving them a little respect for the time and effort that they VOLUNTEERED? You think it is fun having to deal with the relulations that the FFDO's have to deal with? Grow up.

Exactly...

Some people just don't seem to understand, the door is not perfect and must be opened on occasion. When it is opened I want the good guys to have a gun.

 

[Vicman]

hey defender

(if I perceive they have intent, opportunity and ability of course). Not sure how much you can train to retain the weapon, but it is covered before they turn you loose from FTETC.

Intent, opportunity, capability.....you must have been a defender of the fort ???

anyway, I was inthe back galley of an A320, when I witnessed an elderly man open the cockpit door (in cruise), I alerted the FA who sheepishly admitted that she may have not properly closed the flight deck door.

anyway, he ended up closing the door, executed a left face, and entered the first class lav.

SO yes, the flight deck may inadvertently be opened by unauthorized personnel while inflight

and yes the possibility exists that the wrong person may be shot.

take care all.....

Defensor Fortis!