No gun-totin' in the cockpit

[hyper]

http://www.msnbc.com/news/754136.asp

 

[eriknorth]

Maybe I just didn't pick up on this, but he didn't seem to talk about the reasons for going against it-what exactly drew him to the decision. I'd like to hear both sides if nothing more than to be in the know.

 

[airjackson]

Osama Smiling

I can hear the collective cheer of a million middle-eastern zealots. Despite the FACT that less than 1% of all domestic flights have an air marshal on board, and the FACT that security screening is still being done by the same generally inept individuals, and the FACT that the government cannot keep track of or control the entry into our country of these twisted sand-------, Mineta et al have determined that pilots do not deserve the right to defend their aircraft from another suicide-style hijacking. Oh well, rest assured that the U.S. Air Force will not miss the next time a commercial airliner squawks 7700. - Sure makes me feel safer knowing that no one might be hit by an errant bullet. Whew!

 

[chawbein]

What about the passengers???

I would like to see what happens the next time someone tries to hijack an airplane. I bet they will kill the sons of b*tches faster than they killed that kid on the SWA flight. It's a fact that a few people without weapons can overpower one person with a gun or other weapon. I bet any would-be hijackers would have to have reconstructive surgery after the passengers get through with said hijackers.

I wouldn't worry so much about hijackers than I would about some dipsh*t blowing himself up in a shopping mall.

Just my $.02

 

[skydiverdriver]

Yes, I don't think the 9/11 scenario could happen again, unless the hijackers gas all of the passengers or something. I'm sure they will fight back, as they have on numerous occasions after the attacks. But, where there's a will, there's a way. I also thought recently about the Egypt air thing. What if one of the pilots goes to the lav, and the other guy is suicidal? I know this is rare, but with these new doors, the other guy will have no way back inside the cockpit if the one in there want's to be alone. I don't know what to do about that one..

 

[chawbein]

S.O.L!! You can't be prepared for everything unless you live in a police state. If you don't want any possibility of terrorist attacks, you must be willing to perform one of two options.
1. Lock everything down and live like in the book 1984.
2. Be willing to commit virtual genocide to get rid of the possible hijackers from said population.

I have a better idea, lets just continue to live in our free society and when someone gives us a slap in the face return it with a bullet in the brain. Sooner or later, those who are "would-be" slappers will learn a lesson or "die".

 

[TurboS7]

I just want to get the airplane on the ground before some F-16 blows me out of the sky with everyone on board, including the terrorist. No time for being a John Wayne.

 

[HAL]

Exactly right TurboS7. Although I'm sure all of us would be well trained and proficient if we were allowed to bring firearms onboard, my biggest problem is that we would have done the hard part for the potential hijacker - gotten the gun onboard in the first place.

Between better cockpit doors, FAM's, and passengers ready to dismember a potential hijacker, we're a lot better off now than last fall. Personally, I think the guns just add another layer of uncertainty and danger to the situation.

HAL

 

[chawbein]

I agree with TurboS7,

The pilot's job in that situation is to get the plane on the ground as quickly as possible. Let those outside of the cockpit take care of any "disruptions".

 

[chawbein]

I also agree with HAL about the added threat and his assessment of the level of danger since last fall.

 

[aero99]

Guns. I am all for 'em. Own a Mach 90 (semi auto AK-47), few 9's, Mossburg, 30.06 etc...but I never expected the Gov't to allow pilots to have them in the cockpit. In the great state of Texas you can get a carry permit. SO, when I'm out flying the GA aircraft at small airports I can carry.

uh,,,you might be a dorky pilot if you carry a Glock with you in the Arrow......

Actually, I have never even thought about bringing it along.

Little late for that anyway. The terrorist are busy figuring out new ways to attack that we are not looking at while we are still debating guns in the cockpit.

Goes back to private training rule number one when something goes wrong- FLY THE PLANE.

Ditto the remarks about passengers being the biggest deterant- right next to that F-16.

 

[TurboS7]

If a passenger knew that the flight deck was armed they would hesitate waiting for the flight crew to act. Without the arms on the flight deck they know that it is up to them to get control of the cabin and to protect the flight deck.

 

[tdvalve]

You anti-gun guys oughta' know better. For Christ's sake, the gun in the cockpit would be the absolute last line of defense. (except for an F-16, if one is nearby). The concept behind arming pilots was that if the bad guys were breaking down the cockpit door, all other security measures, including passenger resistance, had already failed. Presumably the next stop would be the Sears Tower, or whatever. Maybe a gun wouldn't stop the aircraft from being taken over, but at least the crew would have a fighting chance of saving themselves and the surviving passengers. (Not to mention a large building and its inhabitants). The idea that hijackers would somehow be more dangerous after taking a gun away from the flight crew is downright stupid. So is the belief that flying into a building or getting a rocket up a tailpipe is somehow better than risking a stray bullet hitting a passenger.

Thanks, I feel better now.

 

[Fozzy]

tdvalve,

I am with you on this one. Firearms would be the last line of defense. The last option after the "reinforced" cockpit door has been destroyed and before being shot down. It is lost on me how anyone could be against this. I guess all the govt know nothings won't be happy till this happens again. Do they really think this won't happen again? How can they be sure? Are you really going to bet your life on airport security or the pax guarding the door? Just because it is not logical to try a 9/11 style attack again does not mean they won't. These people are not logical!!! Let me say it again for the cheap seats, THESE PEOPLE ARE NOT LOGICAL! Think of the gain for the O.B.L. crew if they could pull it off! Think of the fallout if they do! Oh ya, and all the dead people too! Politicians are to **CENSORED****CENSORED****CENSORED****CENSORED** busy being P.C. fix the problem.
Safety of the passengers and crew is a pilot's job. Not just flying the plane. And how well do you fly when someone is attacking you???
End of rant. Thanks for listening.

 

[TurboS7]

There is no one that loves guns more than myself. I grew up in the frontier of Colombia, I always had a gun on me everywhere I went and I know how to use it. I also know what it takes to get an aircraft safely from 370 to the ground in 6 minutes, I have done it in a Lear. You do not have any time to even think about anything else, I am sorry I have to stand with the gov. decision on this one.