TP455, You are a pilot not a firearms officer. Yes you are more than likely a 1st class pilot but that does not mean you should therefore be allowed to use that as an argument to justify asking for our complete confidence engaging in another activity. I wouldnt let you conduct open heart surgery
I am a pilot, but what exactly IS a firearms officer? I am a cerified pistol instructor, does that count?
I have been lawfully handling firearms my entire life (much longer than I've been flying, now that I think about it), and I can assure you that it it is not brain (or should I say open heart) surgery! Any pilot that makes it to the level of proficiency to be qualified for an airline job is perfectly capable of handling a firearm responsibly. They are very simple tools. I would question any airline pilot's judgement who feels that he or she isn't capable of handling a firearm in the context of cockpit security. Whether they choose to or not is a personal matter.
The bottom line is that even with all of the awesome
and necessary "security" (cough......eyewash....cough) measures enacted since 9/11, the fact is that if someone wants an airplane bad enough, he can have it.
No matter how many Nat. Guardsmen you have watching the Mc Donalds rejects paw through pilot's dirty underwear. No matter how many sky marshalls you put on other planes. No matter how many 80 year olds in wheelchairs and flight crew are "randomly selected" for patdown (at the gate, by airline ground ops types that are not subject to security screening because they are "trusted" employees) and more dirty laundry airing. No matter how many nail clippers are confiscated at the checkpoint. No matter how many warning signs and Rube Goldberg devices you tape to the cockpit door, all of the "Greatest Security Show on Earth" measures are for naught once Mohammed makes it into the cockpit. At this point, it is up to the twice mentioned, future new hire in the F-15. If he makes it in time.
There are some pilots who can't cope with a radio under pressure, let alone have to make a decision that could (mistakenly?) take a human life.......
Doug, I have news for you.......Pilots make these types of decisions every day.......
[ 20 November 2001: Message edited by: Tripower455 ]