Can Law Enforcement carry on planes now?

[DomMega]

I was reading something called the Safe Skies Act of 2006 which stipulates that local law enforcement be allowed to carry their firearm on board planes and such to help secure the flight making the passengers that much safer and deterring any possible hijacks from terrorists.

I was just curious if this ever passed or not?

 

[jcoiii]

I do not believe so.

 

[fespo276]

No.

 

[DomMega]

Hmmm, I guess Reid never got those unaminous votes he wanted then.

Thanks.

 

[Steve in PA]

In general, unless they can prove a reason requiring them to be armed, such as escorting a prisoner, etc.

 

[nyresq]

Federal LEOs can carry on planes on or off duty as long as their agency normally allows them to carry off duty to begin with...
state and local LEO's must be on official business and have a dated official letterhead with the reason, and travel locations in order to carry on planes.

 

[The Amigo]

Unless your a TSA air Marshall, you will need the training from from TSA in order to carry in an airplane. So yes you can carry only if you are trained your office must contact TSA for the training and state a reason for u to carry. Remember airplane= big pressurized tube at 33000 ft.

 

[BFIII12]

I have a good buddy that is a SWAT officer in Oklahoma and they are currently going through the TSA training so they can carry on a plane. I have another good friend that is a patrol officer and says that if his Cheif signs a letter and gives a good explanation why he needs to carry then they can usually carry while flying.

 

[Agent 006 &7/8]

nyresq is correct. Only Federal LEOs who's agency allows full time carry may carry abourd an airliner (after completing TSA training) at will. Non-feds may carry abourd airliners only after completing TSA training AND show a departmental need to be armed at the destination. Just being Miami SWAT, or LAPD, NYPD, Johnson Co Sheriff Deputy, Calif DoC, etc is not enough, there MUST be a departmental need for the officer to be armed upon arrival. Attempting to cercumvent the law and carry when one shouldn't has resulted in LEOs being charged with a federal felony.

 

[KenW.]

As a Deputy Sheriff that does extraditions occasionally, Agent 006 &7/8 is absolutely correct. The FAA/TSA training amounts to watching a videotape and taking a quiz. The aircraft commander can still refuse your flight. In that case, the airport's ground security manager has to be notified so he can do his thing.

Must have a letter signed by the administrator of your agency (Sheriff / Chief) stating the need to fly armed. TSA will escort around security screening and get you pre-boarded.

This does NOT work off-duty.

Feds get different treatment.

 

[10 Ring Tao]

Remember airplane= big pressurized tube at 33000 ft.

So? Haven't you seen that mythbusters episode? A pinhole isn't going to do jack to the fuselage of a passenger jet.

 

[starboard]

That reminds me of this incident:

02/24/1989 United Air Lines
B-747-122 Honolulu, Hawaii After leaving Honolulu, on a flight from Los Angeles to Sydney, Australia, an electrical short caused the forward lower lobe cargo door to suddenly open resulting in explosive decompression and loss of power in the No. 3 and 4 engines. Nine passengers were sucked out of the plane and lost at sea but the plane landed safely.

 

[gunsmith]

true starboard...but

the only time bullets cause explosive decompression is the movies.

 

[KenW.]

As an aircraft structures mechanic for 20 years (first carrer was USAF), I'll tell everyone that many doors and all removable panels are load-bearing structures. With one missing there is nothing to carry stress across that distance and it will lead to a catastrophic failure. The media reported the Honolulu disaster as an "explosive" decompression. B.S. They fell victim to an age-old myth. While it will get windy, and sections may tear away as a result of the turbulent airflow, the damage is not caused by decompression.

On a large aircraft like a KC-135 (Boeing 707), a bullethole will not make a difference. The it'll whistle, but will not cause a failure.

Someone is going to want references; I discarded my training materials in a small private ceremony after I retired, sorry.

 

[Flyboy73]

I used to work for an airline and some of the duties included cleaning the Aircraft. When an Authorized person can carry on board they are given a form and a copy goes to the captain. Right before the president came into town, I guess a bunch of secret service flew in. In the cockpit trash there was probably 30 of the forms.

Now that was a real protected flight.


Brion

 

[Flyboy73]

I am also a pilot and as far a bullet in causeing a depcompression. I was told there are allready holes in the airpane to let the pressized air out. So whats another small hole

 

[GRIZ22]

Your major danger in discharging a firearm in an aircraft is hitting a power cable and starting a fire. As Flyboy said airplanes do leak pressurization from so many places already. If they were airttight they could just pump them up on the ground and there would be no need for a compressor to be working all the time.

 

[The Unknown User]

Out of curiosity, what firearm and ammunition are Air Marshalls issued?

 

[Archie]

Sorry to contradict anyone, but Federal Agents are not treated differently. Aside from specific agents (including Air Marshals) armed federal agents are not allowed to carry on aircraft absent specific authorization from the agency and the Air Marshal training.

I don't know if that's comforting or discouraging to anyone else.

Rob87, the last time I checked, they carry SIGs in .357 SIG. (I don't pay attention to model numbers anymore. Sorry.)