According to this Foxnews.com article, Washington is preparing to slash the budget on the program that allows pilots to carry a firearm in the cockpit during flight. The current budget of 25 million dollars may be cut in half which in effect may end the program. It seems like Washington spends more on programs far less important than something that allows pilots to defend themselves and their airlines, but I guess Washington has made little if any sense lately. Citing the article, the Airline Pilots association breaks down the cost of the program to $15.00 per flight.
Thats right, apparently it costs only $15 a flight for a pilot to have the training and ability to have a firearm in the cockpit. But yet Washington deems this an expense not worth having in the budget and feels that taxpayer money is better spent on something like providing food aid to North Korea rather than help protect Americans.
We are subjected to all sorts of weird fees and surcharges on our airline tickets that fall into oblivion yet there’s not enough funding to cover an airline captains ability to protect his or her aircraft? We pay for the three ring circus called the TSA yet $15 per flight is too much to bear?
Another interesting point made in the article is the fact that there was a program prior to the 9/11 attacks that allowed pilots to be armed, but the program was terminated the summer before the attacks. Take that for what it’s worth……
Law,
Actually you are wrong. I am a Captain with a major airline. FFDOs are sworn Law Enforcement Officers. Jurisdiction does not extend off the aircraft but all LEOs have limited jurisdiction. You can’t be given a ticket in Oregon by a Texas cop. The FFDOs that I know do this for one purpose – the protection of their flight when all else fails. And Cook…. never mind.
Well said! Thanks!
@David- You are wrong in calling the FFDO program a “Law Enforcement Agency”. FFDOs have no law enforcement authority and cannot legally carry their weapons outside of a locked box when outside if the cockpit. Your one week firearms training program does not make you a cop.
If the pilots want their badges, they are welcome to pay for the entire cost of this program. Otherwise, cancel it. It’s funny how Republicans are against wasteful government spending, unless guns are involved.
@David: Thanks for sharing a different opinion. I think @Marsha said it best and in so few words. The FFDO program is mostly about boosting some already hefty egos.
Useless program needs to be cut anyway.
Most of the FFDOs I fly with don’t even carry anymore. They want the badge to get through security without the normal screening process or to flash it if pulled over for speeding. I have flown with about 6 FFDOs in the last two years –only one had his weapon. Useless program. Window dressing. If they don’t carry –there is no more security than there ever was.
Wow! As an airline pilot, I’m so dumbfounded by your idiotic response that I don’t even know how I would respond. So I won’t even get into it because everyone has a right to their own opinion and I respect that, but if I may, it is obvious you should perhaps stick with what you know, get your facts straight and leave these important topics to the ones that are out there in the front lines, keeping your coca cola, peanut eating at 39,000ft butt safe. If you think a “reinforced” door can keep you safe you got another thing coming. Any door can be defeated, and the last line of defense IS that armed pilot. By the way there are more flights without FAM’s or other Law Enforcement Officer’s than with. And another fact the FFDO program is the 3rd largest Law Enforcement Agency and has had the safest record per officer, so I don’t know what “these several” accident’s your talking about are. There’s been one accidental discharge since the installment of the program in 2003 (and it was a design flaw of the holster, which has been fixed) and there has never been any injuries– ever from an accidental shooting or otherwise, so get your facts straight! Now look up any other Law Enforcement agency’s record on accidental discharges and see if it beats the FFDO’s safety record. Thank goodness most people aren’t as ignorant as you, if you’d only use a little common sense…oh and by the way I’m an Aviator I aviate or fly (flying) an aircraft or I’m called a Pilot therefore pilot an aircraft not drive, it’s not a a car.
Thanks for the pilot’s persective!
This funding cut is probably a good thing. Under current rules, the cockpit crew cannot leave the cockpit under any potentially threatening situation and those post-9-11 doors are very secure – in both directions. No matter what may happen on the cabin side of that door, both pilots need to attend to flying the airplane. A gun-toting papa on the other side of that secure door is of no value to anyone – unless the partner pilot has gone goofy. Even then, shooting him or her is probably not the best answer. While the original program may have seemed like a good idea, it has never been of serious benefit to aircraft security, has caused more than a few problems, several “accidents” and (perhaps- I don’t know) an unintentional injury or two. A few cops and marshalls are specially trained to deal with cabin disturbances, including the use of firearms while in-flight. The do NOT fly airplanes. Pilots are specially trained (we sure hope) to fly large airplanes under all kinds of circumstances, but they are NOT cops or marshalls. Keep the divers isolated and let them drive their airplanes, including diving for a fast landing when necessary. They should not be dealing with cabin issues beyond being well informed by others. We don’t need armed pilots in today’s envirnment, anymore than we need all FAs to be Registered Nurses. Both are rather antique ideas. Both have their unique responsibilities, but packing bullets in the cockpit is not one of them. In a difficult situation, both pilots need to devote all of their attention to FLYING THE AIRPLANE, not contemplating which of 300+ passengers to shoot. If the cockpit door remains secure, the FAs and worthy PAX can and will deal with the other issues, long enough for he boys and girls up-front to get the airplane on the ground. No guns aboard means: NO Guns!