- Personally, I can think of at least three pilots I know that are in the program and many of their cohorts feel they don't have the maturity or self-control to be empowered with a firearm.
- It may have changed, but previously the psychiatrist eval was over the phone.
- Sadly, there are a number of FFDO's that admit they are in the program to make it less of a hassle to get through the TSA screening.
- I have one F/O that likes to make a big production of pulling out his weapon, placing it on the tray table while sorting out his lock box and reloads, then finally putting the damnable thing on his belt or back in his bag. (Just unzip and show everyone what you have if you need that kind of validation, Kimosabe.)
That all sounds rather worrying. As a passenger, or indeed if I was a commercial pilot I wouldn't have any problem at all with guns on the plane provided that the training (not just the physical handling of the weapon but also the "attitude" towards the weapon) was of the highest standards and the strictest procedures were followed at all time. Reading the above though, it looks like things need to be improved.
Guns have their place aviation security, but the users of them must be well trained. It's only if they are not that incidents like this become "inevitable".