Funny thing (good) heard in airplane;

[simon]

at LAX last night.
Part of my part time job is cleaning planes after the passengers disembark.We were on the aircraft doing a cursory cleaning, the flight was a quick turn,when the senior flight attendant came on the PA to let the other FA's know that the captain and first officer were armed, and that there was a DEA agent boarding also armed in 27c.
Just thought this was interesting enough to pass along.

 

[Vern Humphrey]

At last!

A commercial pilot who isn't qualified with weapons and armed is no more fit to fly these days than a pilot who isn't qualified to land.

 

[Father Knows Best]

I wonder how many pilots these days are armed. I assume it is a lot. I personally know three pilots (one Northwest and two FedEx), and all got licensed to carry while flying as soon as TSA announced the program a few years back.

 

[Rockrivr1]

They'd be crazy not to carry. Hell if you can then do it and don't wait. I fly a lot and those doors to the cockpit might be locked now, but they sure do look flimsy enough to kick in pretty easily. At least if they armed the person doing the kicking is in for a rude wake up call as he/she comes through the door.

Not exactly sure I agree with telling people though where the air marshal is sitting. I would think that would be kept secret even from the flight assistants.

 

[Texian Pistolero]

The guy in 25C is a setup. I say that the stewardess has a small pistola strapped to her inner leg just south of Area 51.

 

[Candiru]

Texian Pistolero said: I say that the stewardess has a
small pistola strapped to her inner leg just south of Area 51.

You've just given me a wonderful new euphemism.

To make this post topical, my father-in-law and brother-in-law are both
pilots. If they were to ask me for a recommendation, I'd steer them
toward .38 snubbies loaded with frangible ammo.

 

[Frandy]

My question is, as pilots work for different corporations, is there a standard for the weapons they might carry - has the guvmint provided recommendations - or is each and every carry decision at the individual discretion of the pilot?

 

[richyoung]

If they were to ask me for a recommendation, I'd steer them
toward .38 snubbies loaded with frangible ammo.

Why in the world would you reccomend a short barrel, marginal calibur, low penetration solution? Surely not the old "explosive decompression" myth? A pressurized airplane is a continuous leak - a few pistol bullet holes aren't going to make a difference. Numerous pressurized B-29s were shot by much larger calibures - explosive decompression was not a problem - (Now, EXPLOSION WAS a problem, but more due to the fuel and payload than the pressurization scheme.)

 

[Luchtaine]

The Frangible is probably more in regard to large numbers of people confined in tight spaces. The last thing you want is a round over penetrateing and or ricocheting about the passenger compartment.

 

[MoeMentum]

Nice, they just blew the DEA guys cover , in 27c. Bet that made him happy..

 

[Windhover45]

MoeMentum Nice, they just blew the DEA guys cover , in 27c. Bet that made him happy..

How so? Reading the orignal post I had the impression that the airplane was empty of passengers and tha announcement was for the flight attendants. I'm guessing so that, if the flight attendant saw the DEA guy's weapon accidently, he/she wouldn't freak. Also, they'd know who to go to, in case there was any trouble.

 

[DigMe]

If they were to ask me for a recommendation, I'd steer them

I believe the gun and ammo is controlled and designated by the powers that be.

brad cook

 

[EOD Guy]

Not exactly sure I agree with telling people though where the air marshal is sitting. I would think that would be kept secret even from the flight assistants.

I believe it was a DEA agent, not an air marshall. Anyway, the crew is required to know who is armed (legally armed at least). One reason is that they are not allowed to serve alcohol to anyone who is carrying a firearm.

Yes, some armed LEO's will try and buy a drink while they are flying. I was with a Secret Service agent flying between two presidential candidate support missions one time when he ordered a beer. The flight attendant wouldn't serve him and I took delight in telling him how good my beer(s) tasted. It was good natured harrassment, since I'd known him for years.

 

[spacemanspiff]

i dont have enough security clearances to gain access to area 51.

 

[MacPelto]

The Frangible is probably more in regard to large numbers of people confined in tight spaces. The last thing you want is a round over penetrateing and or ricocheting about the passenger compartment.

I would think that terrorists taking over and deliberately crashing into things would be last thing that I wanted, or at least lower on the list than being hit by an over-penetrating round.

Mac

 

[thorn726]

DEA agent boarding also armed in 27c.

yeah i dont like that one much either. the "cover" of his job not so much the issue, but if terrorists were aboard, they know who to jump at first.

telling people the capt and other guy was armed, fine, but why front off your undercover?

look at it this way== if there were terrorists, they might decide t owait till another plane. if they had struck,. they woulda been caught

 

[EOD Guy]

The announcement was made before the passengers boarded. I believe that FAA regulations require that the crew knows who is armed.

 

[Trebor]

The .gov has mandated what pistol and ammo is carried by the armed flight deck crews. IIRC, it's a Sig in .357 Sig. I might be confusing that with the Air Marshall issue though.

 

[DigMe]

IIRC, it's a Sig in .357 Sig. I might be confusing that with the Air Marshall issue though.

I think that's what the air marshall's pack. I believe the pilots are different but I may be wrong. I've heard rumors of H&K.

brad cook

 

[KAR120C]

Read an article in TIME last year that claimed air marshals did in fact carry the .357 Sig. Don't know about pilots, but am curious.

This is great news by the way. Couldn't be happier to hear pilots are carrying. I agree with Vern... they should all be REQUIRED to carry.

I know a guy who was terrified when he heard pilots would start carrying. "the terrorists will just take their guns away and use them against them"

 

[eerw]

Believe most of the pilots who want to carry go to a Federal training facility for firearms and crisis management..

there was a couple of articles about training at the FLETC facility in NM..

A guy that shoots in one of the IPSC clubs is a marshall..I know he carries a SIG..not sure on caliber..

 

[Ego Archive]

So let me get this straight... The senior flight attendant had to notify the rest of the crew that the pilot and co-pilot had guns...so they wouldn't serve them alcohol?

Heh

-Area 51 agent-

 

[Vern Humphrey]

I know a guy who was terrified when he heard pilots would start carrying. "the terrorists will just take their guns away and use them against them"

Reminds me of me Grand-da, old Captain Jack Clooney. He was a bad one for going to the dentist, but me Grandma made him. He was nervous in the chair, so the dentist says, "Cap'n Jack, try some of this mouthwash first" and hands him a tot of Irish whiskey.

The old fella knocks it back and the dentist says, "Ready now?"

And the old fella says, "Maybe if I could have a bit more of that mouthwash."

So he knocks back another tot, and the dentist says, "Are ye ready now?"

But the old fella asks for one more. After he puts that one down, the dentist says, "Okay, open wide."

And the old fella says, "Faith and I'd like to SEE the man who'd touch me teeth NOW!"

*************************************

And I'd like to see the man who'd take a loaded gun from me.

 

[Rickstir]

You didn't by chance ask the stews what they thought about the crew/passenger being armed did you?

 

[simon]

the airplane was empty of passengers and tha announcement was for the flight attendants.

Yes to the above.

You didn't by chance ask the stews what they thought about the crew/passenger being armed did you?

No, I didn't.
I did however smile at her and give a little Yipeee!