The "piece" left in the cockpit would require the airlines involvement. They do not want to get involved.
They are involved. When you deadhead, you give custody of the weapon over to a new hire ramper. This issue alone has many of the airlines up in arms, as they don't want to be responsible for the inevitable loss of the gun, which is sure to happen. I wonder if the tsA will take responsibility for the loss of the weapon due to their idiotic procedures?
We can ill afford to refuse arming ourselves.
Agreed!
If we do not sign on for the program I fear the TSA will say the pilots are not interested.
GOOD! Then congress will want to know WHY we aren't interested. Signing on indicates that we are OK with the unworkable program.
The way the program is set up will discourage many if not most pilots from participating. (Heck, I am all for arming pilots and would volunteer in a heartbeat if it was actually a workable program.) Not a very big deterrent if a small % are armed.
The folks at the tsA designed this program to fail and to get pilots in trouble. (period. dot. end.) They are treating this program as if it were a gift to pilots. The ironic thing is that it will be the only effective measure that the tsA has taken to counter another 9/11 type incident. Too bad not enough pilots will participate to make it work!
Gohogs, we are on the same side of this issue!