Pilot's gun discharges on US Airways flight

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Yes, good fuel for anyone against firearms... wherever they are, they COULD go off...

Like has been said... the plane did NOT explode.

The cockpit voice recorder should tell pretty clearly what was going on at the time.

Even though we do not know what happened... 4 rules...
 
Black box audio could be priceless. Shows gun to Navigator and Co-Pilot.... "I'm the only one on this flight deck professional enough BOOM!...%^&^&%$!"
 
The cockpit voice recorder should tell pretty clearly what was going on at the time.
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The data recorders can only store a limited amount of information before looping over and erasing the information from earlier in the flight. The idea is that when an airplane crashes, the recording ceases. The recorder would then be recovered and they'd look at the entire dataset, paying special attention to the information just before impact.

In other words, the data recorders typically only give a few minutes of insight into a disaster.

Thankfully, the plane didn't go down. It didn't even divert to a different airport. There's little doubt in my mind that the data recorder already wrote over the recording of the incident.

I'm sure the airlines and the administrators of this "Flight Deck" program will do an excellent job keeping further details from getting out.

Steve
 
A flight data recorder wouldn't have any information on a gun being discharged unless the round damaged one of the systems the data recorder monitors. (Varies by model). The cockpit voice recorder would have recorded the sound and while it operates on a continous loop, different models record for different lengths of time. FDR's store a lot more information than just a few hours. We had a pilot overtemp and engine during startup that failed a few days later. They analyized the data recorder and found the hot start, counted the number of cyles, and figured out who the captain was who overtemped and didn't report it.
 
If I'm not mistaken, I think these pilots are required to carry the firearm unloaded, in a locked case, with a trigger lock, and several other "safety" practices at all times when not in the cockpit.

Sure, I've loaded and unloaded my CCW pistol several thousand times without incident, and the ultimate responsibility lies with the pilot who had the AD. But requiring the firearm be locked and unlocked, loaded and unloaded just increases the odds of an accident.

How come pilots are allowed to carry outside the airport, and inside the cockpit, yet they become dangerous criminals between the metal detectors and the airplane?

Why can't they carry everywhere?

Heck, why can't we carry everywhere?
 
from the cockpit voice recorder....

Pilot....yeah, I got this down at the gun show last weekend

Copilot....Wow, that is a beauty, is that a chromed slide?

Pilot... Yeah, I've been learning tricks with it... Watch me twirl it....

BANG

#^#%^@$!#$@^&^@#$!@%@%
 
Pilot....yeah, I got this down at the gun show last weekend

Copilot....Wow, that is a beauty, is that a chromed slide?

Pilot... Yeah, I've been learning tricks with it... Watch me twirl it....

BANG
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Dravur, not doubting you but can you site the source of the above? Thanks. I live in Lone Tree BTW.
 
Quote:
US Airways pilot accidentally discharged his gun.
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While we have no real facts.. SOMEHOW I highly doubt the gun just went off by itself.
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FIXED!

The problem with blame is that it leaves you powerless to find a solution. (Feel free to apply to any current social problem)
 
I agree that it's too early to pass judgment, but why would the gun be out of storage, let alone the holster?
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I can't tell you why it would be out of the holster. As for storage, I'm guessing that if they need their gun they would rather have it easily accessible than sitting in their crew bag. As some have suggested it may be policy that they load and unload.

I trained along side a class of these guys at FLETC. Unlike law enforcement in general, which probably runs fairly close to the national average on gun views, just about all of the pilots were pro gun. Most of the ones I talked to had carry permits and wished other people with carry permits could carry on their planes.

This is a good program, hopefully this incident won't set it back too much.
 
Pilot, you might wanna calibrate your sarcasm meter against Dravur's post.
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Ha. Yeah, guess I should. As you can probably guess its a topic that concerns me. :)
 
I trained along side a class of these guys at FLETC. Unlike law enforcement in general, which probably runs fairly close to the national average on gun views, just about all of the pilots were pro gun. Most of the ones I talked to had carry permits and wished other people with carry permits could carry on their planes.
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That's because pilots are in the same position as gun owners. Flying is crucified in the media (particularly General Aviation). They know perfectly well that guns cause no harm on their own, just as airplanes aren't falling out of the sky every day. They don't buy into the media's sensationalism. And they regard the FAA like we regard the BATFE.
 
That's because pilots are in the same position as gun owners. Flying is crucified in the media (particularly General Aviation). They know perfectly well that guns cause no harm on their own, just as airplanes aren't falling out of the sky every day. They don't buy into the media's sensationalism. And they regard the FAA like we regard the BATFE.
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X2. Very, very true. Between more Regs, TFR's, the ADIZ, airplane costs and over $5.00 per gallon 100LL, and negative media sensationalism promoting class envy, General Aviation is dieing.
 
X2. Very, very true. Between more Regs, TFR's, the ADIZ, airplane costs and over $5.00 per gallon 100LL, and negative media sensationalism promoting class envy, General Aviation is dieing.
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The class envy thing- just like every gun owner is portrayed as a redneck survivalist nutcase, every aircraft owner and pilot is thought of as being rich.
:barf:
 
Pilot Fires Gun

Reporting this story on Fox, both Cavuto and the story's title on the screen said "Pilot fires gun on flight" not "gun accidentally goes off"

Not an entirely sensational angle...
 
I was just watching this story on CNN. The guest (didn't catch his name) said the pilots carry a .40 H&K in a holster worn on the body. He also said the pilots use frangible bullets to minimize damage to the aircraft.

edit: Not sure exactly how much of an expert he is though.
 
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