Unbelievable letter to editor. USA Today

[Tri-holer]

Gotta say we flew the cargo version of the Triassic jet and there was no way we could operate with just one pack at altitude cause of all the holes, what with the hole they cut for the door and the "slightly" lessened level of maintenance in resealing holes in the pressure vessel during checks and such.

I am sure the cumulative effect was much more than a half inch hole.

I know that on one flight, (oddly enough, a day flight), I looked at the bottom of the entry door at altitude and saw a 1/4 to 1/2 inch gap. Good packs.

 

[skydiverdriver]

I once spoke to a DHL pilot who said he wasn't worried about bullet holes, since he took off with a plane full of holes anyway. Perhaps a bullet might cause other damage than just a small hole, as the damage might do more. Anyway, my contention is that if someone was trying to take over my aircraft, I hope I hit the fuel tank, if they give me a gun. One aircraft crashing over flyover country is way preferrable to hitting a building full of people.

 

[bart]

It is very simple guys, if you carry a weapon on your aircraft, spend some time at the range every month so the bullet ends up going into the perpetrator and not through the fuselage.

Also, make sure you use the lightest hollow point rounds you can find and no target is considered hit without two shots in it.

 

[profile]

The military has had some experience with this and so it is not just speculation to say that aircraft can maintain pressurization when full of holes from small arms fire.

 

[AWACoff]

Right about the time I think I know what I'm doing, I get a hard reality check. I don't know how you guys know how many windows you can be missing and maintain pressurization. The first thing that comes to mind is the FA dinging you with an urgent message about somebody opening their window....yikes. Thanks for setting me straight. I have heard the phrase "It is better to be thought a fool than to open one's mouth and remove all doubt". Oh well. I'm sure most of you knew that about me by now. See Yoooooooooo!

PS. Seriously...WHERE did you guys get the info for how many windows your aircraft can be missing and still maintain cabin???

 

[Buschpilot]

Garrett "Plug"

Hey RJones!

Haven't had the opportunity yet to takeoff with anything plugged (yet). Those are generator inlet heaters. From what I understand they are factory installed (unlike 85% of anything else on the Turbo Commander), but I believe we replaced them at some point, hence the red color.

Garrett pilots do it louder.

B

 

[zulua320]

I think the whole bullethole in the fuselage argument is a moot point if you use the right bullets. Back when I was shooting on a regular basis I remember seeing advertisements for "safety slugs" (made my a company called Glaser, I think), that were essentially birdshot surrounded by a thin lead jacket. The idea was that the bullets would break apart on impact, so if you missed the bad guy breaking into your house they wouldn't go through the wall and hit your kids sleeping in the next room. They were advertised as not being able to penetrate a layer of drywall, so I bet the same would hold true for an aluminum skin.
I haven't done any shooting in years, so I don't know if these bullets are still around, but it doesn't seem too difficult to me to design a bullet that can tear up a bad guy without punching through the fuselage.
My $.02 -- slow morning (as usual).

 

[Ty Webb]

The B717 outflow valve is a rectangle about the size of a phone book. The default position for manual presurization control in flight is 1/3 open.

The overpressure relief valves are about the size of a softball, so that is the opening required to vent an overpressure. Doubt a small-arms bullet would do too much damage from a pressurization standpoint.

If a security guard with a GED can be licensed to carry a firearm, I think that a pilot with a 10 year background check, and an FBI background check should eb able to carry, given a small amount of training, which would be easily provided during initial or recurrent training.

 

[Chunk]

Frangible rounds

You're talking about frangible rounds...

However, I have read on the calforum that a poster (a 73captain) was chatting with some Air Marshalls. Those guys are using Hydra-Shock rounds....those are no BS.

Chunk <---just gimme my Sig .40....I'll take a USP if that's all ya got! Wait, does this make me a gun nut?

 

[flying_gringo]

your little hole...

I used to fly Falcons in cargo with doors so bent you could watch the city lights go by while crusing at FL350. So I vote against the bullet hole causing all sorts of unpressurized chaos.

heck - a well placed bullet may clear an MEL or two....