AA Captain Throws Secret Service Agent Off Flight
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It's very simple gentlemen.
I am not allowed to carry a gun on my own aeroplane so no other b~gger is going to either - with or without papers.
If he's a bodyguard even on duty with his client I don't care, he doesn't get on.
I am not allowed to carry a gun on my own aeroplane so no other b~gger is going to either - with or without papers.
If he's a bodyguard even on duty with his client I don't care, he doesn't get on.
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SaturnV - as you correctly say, the problem with the flight cancellation was American's.
As I have said several times now, I really cannot understand why this captain (or whoever was given the task of verifying the agent's ID) would have not done the two things that would have confirmed it in minutes - checked with the gate agent re the cancellation of the original flight (and hence the glitch in paperwork); and had AA Security call the USSS ... especially as the flight had been delayed by over an hour!!
At the very least, this is poor judgement on that individual's part; and at most racism from the point of view that he's not having any gun-toting Arabs on his flight (regardless of their nationality and employer).
If the latter is the case, what will happen if an Arab-American skymarshall is assigned? Will that person similarly be denied travel?
Again, as I have said before, Federal agents are required to carry their personal weapons at all times. No ifs, buts or maybes. Failure to do so results, I am told, in pretty drastic action. These are not hick cops from some one horse town - these people have generally gone through at least as rigorous recruitment, selection and training processes as the average airline pilot - and with them, they genuinely do both put their lives on the line and make life-changing decisions for other people on a daily basis.
As I have said several times now, I really cannot understand why this captain (or whoever was given the task of verifying the agent's ID) would have not done the two things that would have confirmed it in minutes - checked with the gate agent re the cancellation of the original flight (and hence the glitch in paperwork); and had AA Security call the USSS ... especially as the flight had been delayed by over an hour!!
At the very least, this is poor judgement on that individual's part; and at most racism from the point of view that he's not having any gun-toting Arabs on his flight (regardless of their nationality and employer).
If the latter is the case, what will happen if an Arab-American skymarshall is assigned? Will that person similarly be denied travel?
Again, as I have said before, Federal agents are required to carry their personal weapons at all times. No ifs, buts or maybes. Failure to do so results, I am told, in pretty drastic action. These are not hick cops from some one horse town - these people have generally gone through at least as rigorous recruitment, selection and training processes as the average airline pilot - and with them, they genuinely do both put their lives on the line and make life-changing decisions for other people on a daily basis.
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Gov,
It really is time now for you to listen to the PILOTS here. You do not carry passengers, we do.
If I as captain decide that someone is not getting on, then that's it. I make the decision on behalf of safety/perceived safety or even Cautionism, NOT racism.
It's a short and as simple as it is, right?
It really is time now for you to listen to the PILOTS here. You do not carry passengers, we do.
If I as captain decide that someone is not getting on, then that's it. I make the decision on behalf of safety/perceived safety or even Cautionism, NOT racism.
It's a short and as simple as it is, right?
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AA SLF
The difference between the Secret Service man and a Sky Martial is that the Sky Martials are specifically trained to operate within the confines of an aircraft cabin. That means that they are aware of the potential for an explosive decompression if they discharge their weapons. As I understand it they also operate as a team rather than a sole agent.
As an (unarmed) UK Police Officer I know which one I would prefer to be looking out for my interests on a flight
The difference between the Secret Service man and a Sky Martial is that the Sky Martials are specifically trained to operate within the confines of an aircraft cabin. That means that they are aware of the potential for an explosive decompression if they discharge their weapons. As I understand it they also operate as a team rather than a sole agent.
As an (unarmed) UK Police Officer I know which one I would prefer to be looking out for my interests on a flight
Guv,
As an AA Captain, I give as much credibility to your statements as the world investment community has given you in financing to start an airline.
When large goverment and corporate organizations interact there are problems that sometimes occur. Instances like these have occurred many times in the past.
In this case, instead of the Secret Service quietly handling the problem with AA, this whiney agent went immediately the the Council of Islamic Relations knowing it would go public.
So much for the agents "background" check and his ability to remain "secret". By going public, he has revealed the travel patterns of agents assinged to the presidential detail. He has in some form compromised the security of the presidential detail. It will not go unnoticed by the professionals
He should be reassigned to guarding the gooney birds on Midway island in the middle of the Pacific.
As an AA Captain, I give as much credibility to your statements as the world investment community has given you in financing to start an airline.
When large goverment and corporate organizations interact there are problems that sometimes occur. Instances like these have occurred many times in the past.
In this case, instead of the Secret Service quietly handling the problem with AA, this whiney agent went immediately the the Council of Islamic Relations knowing it would go public.
So much for the agents "background" check and his ability to remain "secret". By going public, he has revealed the travel patterns of agents assinged to the presidential detail. He has in some form compromised the security of the presidential detail. It will not go unnoticed by the professionals
He should be reassigned to guarding the gooney birds on Midway island in the middle of the Pacific.
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This entire episode is blown WAY out of proportion by the news media, self-interest groups, AND President Bush. When questioned about it down at the ranch the other day, he should has said simply that it was a "misunderstanding and that it's being looked into." Instead, he chose to tacitly infer that the American Airlines captain is a racist. A couple more slurs like that, and the republican party can count me out as a member.
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The problem here is that there is no single ID for all armed law enforcement. How can I know what is right and wrong? Verbal approvals are specifically verboten.
Security concerns limit what I can say, but bear in mind that pilots are often notified in advance when an armed pax will be on their flight.
If this guy was rolled over from another flight, the pilot of the flight in question probably didn't receive his advance notice, add to that a problem with his paperwork, and then pax gets arrogant.
As a federal law enforcement officer he had plenty of avenues available to him to redress his problems with American's treatment of him if he had really been mistreated, most of them very effective government agencies.
Instead he went to the Arab anti defimation league or whatever and made his beef through there, which leads me to believe he is/was spoiling for a fight and this whole thing will wind up with him filing a lawsuit against AA so that he can get a Lotto type payout, which I now think was his intention all along.
This is the same sort of crap that lead up to 9/11. There is a great profiling system called CAPS. it picked out many of the 9/11 hijackers and though we are forbidden from using it on people because of "Arab outrage" after the persian gulf war, we can use it on their bags (which they don't know about) which is why Atta's bags never made it out of boston. They were still being screened when the flight left.
So Boo hoo, they were mean to me.
Folks, incase you don't get it, its war right now and security is high. If you don't behave nin an expected manner (even for reason's not known to you, like the crew wasn't notified in advance of your presence, or your paper work is dorked up) expect to be taken aside.
The fact that AA is backing the pilot (Which they absolutely never do) is more than enough evidence that this guy was not cooperative and was suspicious.
Cheers
Wino
Security concerns limit what I can say, but bear in mind that pilots are often notified in advance when an armed pax will be on their flight.
If this guy was rolled over from another flight, the pilot of the flight in question probably didn't receive his advance notice, add to that a problem with his paperwork, and then pax gets arrogant.
As a federal law enforcement officer he had plenty of avenues available to him to redress his problems with American's treatment of him if he had really been mistreated, most of them very effective government agencies.
Instead he went to the Arab anti defimation league or whatever and made his beef through there, which leads me to believe he is/was spoiling for a fight and this whole thing will wind up with him filing a lawsuit against AA so that he can get a Lotto type payout, which I now think was his intention all along.
This is the same sort of crap that lead up to 9/11. There is a great profiling system called CAPS. it picked out many of the 9/11 hijackers and though we are forbidden from using it on people because of "Arab outrage" after the persian gulf war, we can use it on their bags (which they don't know about) which is why Atta's bags never made it out of boston. They were still being screened when the flight left.
So Boo hoo, they were mean to me.
Folks, incase you don't get it, its war right now and security is high. If you don't behave nin an expected manner (even for reason's not known to you, like the crew wasn't notified in advance of your presence, or your paper work is dorked up) expect to be taken aside.
The fact that AA is backing the pilot (Which they absolutely never do) is more than enough evidence that this guy was not cooperative and was suspicious.
Cheers
Wino
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Wino - the earlier flight (also AA) was cancelled.
Therefore, the problem with the paperwork was down to AA (ie it would have been in order for that flight (I assume)). Indeed, it appears now - according to AA SLF's post:
[quote]Latest off the TV - MSNBC says that AA now says that it was never a matter of paperwork, rather the Capt. could not establish the Agents credentials. Give me break - that is a non-starter. Does anyone out there really believe that the Secret Service doesn't have one of the best communication systems in the world? That the BWI LEOs couldn't contact their next door neighbor and independently confirm the Agents creds? Does anyone believe the Secret Service doesn't maintain a 7x24 command post in Wash-DC? <hr></blockquote>
I don't think that this problem has been blown out of all proportion by the media etc: clearly - within the same company! - you have one flight where someone allegedly with IEDs in his shoes attempts to blow it it; and another where you have a captain denying passage to a member of the President's close protection team - apparently on the basis of his race.
Obviously, AA has a serious problem in its hands.
Therefore, the problem with the paperwork was down to AA (ie it would have been in order for that flight (I assume)). Indeed, it appears now - according to AA SLF's post:
[quote]Latest off the TV - MSNBC says that AA now says that it was never a matter of paperwork, rather the Capt. could not establish the Agents credentials. Give me break - that is a non-starter. Does anyone out there really believe that the Secret Service doesn't have one of the best communication systems in the world? That the BWI LEOs couldn't contact their next door neighbor and independently confirm the Agents creds? Does anyone believe the Secret Service doesn't maintain a 7x24 command post in Wash-DC? <hr></blockquote>
I don't think that this problem has been blown out of all proportion by the media etc: clearly - within the same company! - you have one flight where someone allegedly with IEDs in his shoes attempts to blow it it; and another where you have a captain denying passage to a member of the President's close protection team - apparently on the basis of his race.
Obviously, AA has a serious problem in its hands.
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Oh no. Now we have the Guvnor as a safety, security and firearms expert. When will those of you who keep sticking up for this Walter Mitty start to realise that he is nothing but a failed businessman who is wanted for various illegal activities. He spends all his time on the internet scouring for bits of information he can plagiarise and pretend it was his own qualifications that give him the right to explain to us how to do our jobs and why.
[quote]Treasury Agents get far more intensive (and extensive) training including the use of firearms on board aircraft and other enclosed places. With the possible exception of the SAS, I can't think of anyone better to have on board.<hr></blockquote> Here is a classic example of this idiots 'expertise' and 'knowlege' based on experience. Dont you realise yet that he just loves pretending he is an expert.
No one who is in the real business would make stupid comments like that above and anyone who has had 'real' training knows that one person acting on their own, armed or not, unrehearsed, is only of very limited use and quite possibly more of a danger. The Guvnor is like many of the commentators on this forum a jack of all trades and a master of none. Watch too many hollywood movies and you begin to believe everything you watch.
If the Guvnor ever made it to become an airline captain (which is as about as likely as him starting an airline ie. zilch) we would have seen him creaming his pants as he got to be pals with a real secret service agent and ignoring any discrepancies in the paperwork. Bet then he is used to discrepancies with his paperwork. Just ask the police about some of the companies he has tried to set up.
[quote]Treasury Agents get far more intensive (and extensive) training including the use of firearms on board aircraft and other enclosed places. With the possible exception of the SAS, I can't think of anyone better to have on board.<hr></blockquote> Here is a classic example of this idiots 'expertise' and 'knowlege' based on experience. Dont you realise yet that he just loves pretending he is an expert.
No one who is in the real business would make stupid comments like that above and anyone who has had 'real' training knows that one person acting on their own, armed or not, unrehearsed, is only of very limited use and quite possibly more of a danger. The Guvnor is like many of the commentators on this forum a jack of all trades and a master of none. Watch too many hollywood movies and you begin to believe everything you watch.
If the Guvnor ever made it to become an airline captain (which is as about as likely as him starting an airline ie. zilch) we would have seen him creaming his pants as he got to be pals with a real secret service agent and ignoring any discrepancies in the paperwork. Bet then he is used to discrepancies with his paperwork. Just ask the police about some of the companies he has tried to set up.
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Bruce - go and lie down somewhere in a darkened room. Kindly point out precisely where I have claimed to be an expert in these areas?
You can't, because I haven't - outside your own fevered imagination.
Just as you were completely unable to substantiate any of your claims about me, despite being challenged to.
And yes, it's amazing what one can discover through the power of the net, isn't it - and a couple of mates who happen to be cops in Oz! <img src="wink.gif" border="0">
[ 29 December 2001: Message edited by: The Guvnor ]</p>
You can't, because I haven't - outside your own fevered imagination.
Just as you were completely unable to substantiate any of your claims about me, despite being challenged to.
And yes, it's amazing what one can discover through the power of the net, isn't it - and a couple of mates who happen to be cops in Oz! <img src="wink.gif" border="0">
[ 29 December 2001: Message edited by: The Guvnor ]</p>
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This excerpt from a San Francisco Cronicle article gives a little insight into the problem with assuming that any badge is good one:
<<<"This is about American Airlines confirming that an armed individual is indeed who he says he is," Whitcomb said. He noted that once the agent's identity was confirmed, he flew on American Airlines the next day to Dallas to guard the president, who is vacationing at his West Texas ranch.
"In this time of heightened security, absolutely no one is above approved security procedures," Whitcomb said.
FAKE CREDENTIALS
A federal probe conducted last year shows that concern about bogus law enforcement credentials is justified. Undercover inspectors using fake law enforcement credentials and badges "readily available" on the Internet were able to declare themselves "armed law enforcement officers" and skirt security checkpoints at 19 federal agencies -- including the CIA, FBI and Pentagon -- and two airports, according to the General Accounting Office, the investigative arm of Congress which conducted the operation.
"At no time time during the undercover visits were our agents' bogus credentials or badges challenged by anyone," Robert Hast, the GAO'S special investigations chief, told Congress last year. Working in teams of two or three, the agents were able to get minivans and satchels that could have been packed with explosives and biological agents past checkpoints.
The agents were waved around metal detectors at Washington's Reagan National Airport and Orlando (Florida) Airport after presenting tickets issued in their undercover aliases and fake credentials.
"Our agents could thus have carried weapons, explosives, chemical/biological agents, or other dangerous objects onto aircraft," GAO manager Gerald Dillingham warned a Senate committee on Sept. 20, nine days after the terrorist attacks in New York and on the Pentagon.
The number of law enforcement officers who fly while armed is unknown because neither the FAA nor airlines systematically collect this information. But a GAO study found nearly 10,000 armed law enforcement officers flew on US Airways during a three-month period in 2000.>>>
<<<"This is about American Airlines confirming that an armed individual is indeed who he says he is," Whitcomb said. He noted that once the agent's identity was confirmed, he flew on American Airlines the next day to Dallas to guard the president, who is vacationing at his West Texas ranch.
"In this time of heightened security, absolutely no one is above approved security procedures," Whitcomb said.
FAKE CREDENTIALS
A federal probe conducted last year shows that concern about bogus law enforcement credentials is justified. Undercover inspectors using fake law enforcement credentials and badges "readily available" on the Internet were able to declare themselves "armed law enforcement officers" and skirt security checkpoints at 19 federal agencies -- including the CIA, FBI and Pentagon -- and two airports, according to the General Accounting Office, the investigative arm of Congress which conducted the operation.
"At no time time during the undercover visits were our agents' bogus credentials or badges challenged by anyone," Robert Hast, the GAO'S special investigations chief, told Congress last year. Working in teams of two or three, the agents were able to get minivans and satchels that could have been packed with explosives and biological agents past checkpoints.
The agents were waved around metal detectors at Washington's Reagan National Airport and Orlando (Florida) Airport after presenting tickets issued in their undercover aliases and fake credentials.
"Our agents could thus have carried weapons, explosives, chemical/biological agents, or other dangerous objects onto aircraft," GAO manager Gerald Dillingham warned a Senate committee on Sept. 20, nine days after the terrorist attacks in New York and on the Pentagon.
The number of law enforcement officers who fly while armed is unknown because neither the FAA nor airlines systematically collect this information. But a GAO study found nearly 10,000 armed law enforcement officers flew on US Airways during a three-month period in 2000.>>>
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Okay GUV,
I thought you had experience with airlines but apparently not.
I am an airline pilot. Everything I do is governed by my company operating manual. It is MORE restrictive than the FARs. If it is in the book it is the LAW, nothing less for operating an aircraft on American Airlines AOC.
Regardless of how it happens, if a person does not have the required paperwork as stated in the company ops manual I cannot let that person board the aircraft, nor can I amend his paperwork just because I feel like it.
Regardless of how he ended up on another aircraft, their are very strict procedures for allowing armed pax to travel in a commercial jet. Among other things they exist to prevent an agent from "Going Postal" and jumping on another aircraft to cause mayhem.
You may not like it, and I know you enjoy slamming pilots every chance you get, but we cannot violate a company ops manual. Doing that is a violation of FEDERAL LAW. Once the agent got rolled over, he needed new paper work. I am sorry if he was too lazy, or uninformed or whatever else, but he can't simply line out parts of the form and turn them in.
The forms are multiple carbon copies that are scattered all over the planet. So he dropped one copy before he left for the airport, dropped another one at the ticket counter etc. YOU in all your wisdom think he should just line out something in the last 2 or 3 copies he is holding on to and think that would be ok. Well its not, maybe thats okay in Africa. In the USA that would be fraud.
Get a grip Guv. This is being spun to appease muslims so that we can show how we are not attacking a religion or a race. This guy screwed up.
Cheers
Wino
I thought you had experience with airlines but apparently not.
I am an airline pilot. Everything I do is governed by my company operating manual. It is MORE restrictive than the FARs. If it is in the book it is the LAW, nothing less for operating an aircraft on American Airlines AOC.
Regardless of how it happens, if a person does not have the required paperwork as stated in the company ops manual I cannot let that person board the aircraft, nor can I amend his paperwork just because I feel like it.
Regardless of how he ended up on another aircraft, their are very strict procedures for allowing armed pax to travel in a commercial jet. Among other things they exist to prevent an agent from "Going Postal" and jumping on another aircraft to cause mayhem.
You may not like it, and I know you enjoy slamming pilots every chance you get, but we cannot violate a company ops manual. Doing that is a violation of FEDERAL LAW. Once the agent got rolled over, he needed new paper work. I am sorry if he was too lazy, or uninformed or whatever else, but he can't simply line out parts of the form and turn them in.
The forms are multiple carbon copies that are scattered all over the planet. So he dropped one copy before he left for the airport, dropped another one at the ticket counter etc. YOU in all your wisdom think he should just line out something in the last 2 or 3 copies he is holding on to and think that would be ok. Well its not, maybe thats okay in Africa. In the USA that would be fraud.
Get a grip Guv. This is being spun to appease muslims so that we can show how we are not attacking a religion or a race. This guy screwed up.
Cheers
Wino
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Only in America ... <img src="rolleyes.gif" border="0">
... you have a load of aircraft hijacked and crashed into various buildings; you allegedly beef up security at all airports (turning a two hour trip into a six hour one; you deny boarding to a member of the US President's bodyguard detail...
<a href="http://www.cnn.com/2001/US/12/29/airport.gun/index.html" target="_blank">...and you allow a bozo with a 9mm on not one, but TWO flights!</a> <img src="eek.gif" border="0"> <img src="rolleyes.gif" border="0"> <img src="eek.gif" border="0">
[ 30 December 2001: Message edited by: The Guvnor ]</p>
... you have a load of aircraft hijacked and crashed into various buildings; you allegedly beef up security at all airports (turning a two hour trip into a six hour one; you deny boarding to a member of the US President's bodyguard detail...
<a href="http://www.cnn.com/2001/US/12/29/airport.gun/index.html" target="_blank">...and you allow a bozo with a 9mm on not one, but TWO flights!</a> <img src="eek.gif" border="0"> <img src="rolleyes.gif" border="0"> <img src="eek.gif" border="0">
[ 30 December 2001: Message edited by: The Guvnor ]</p>
Guv,
I saw my co-workers murdered and cremated on TV on 9/11, flying the exact tail numbers that I have also flown. You can go F&ck yourself.
If the Captain on the agents flight didn't have a valid concern, he would have been publicly hung out to dry by now. This is a fact of life at AA.
Your pathetic
An AA pilot
I saw my co-workers murdered and cremated on TV on 9/11, flying the exact tail numbers that I have also flown. You can go F&ck yourself.
If the Captain on the agents flight didn't have a valid concern, he would have been publicly hung out to dry by now. This is a fact of life at AA.
Your pathetic
An AA pilot
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Guv, You are way out of line with that last post.
Why don't you tell everyone here which Bash you will next attend.
I'm sure that will put attendance at an all time high.
After your last post I'm sure many ppruners would like to have a "private" discussion of these issues with you...myself included...
Why don't you tell everyone here which Bash you will next attend.
I'm sure that will put attendance at an all time high.
After your last post I'm sure many ppruners would like to have a "private" discussion of these issues with you...myself included...
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Haven't seen the pax POV posted yet.
If I've got a choice of flying on
(1) an airline which allows any old part-time poultry inspector with dodgy paperwork to carry a gun on the flight
(2) an airline which allows nobody at all to carry a gun on the flight (OK, except perhaps for Mossad and the SAS)
to me it's a no brainer as to which airline to buy a ticket on.
Could I encourage airlines to publish their policies please?
If I've got a choice of flying on
(1) an airline which allows any old part-time poultry inspector with dodgy paperwork to carry a gun on the flight
(2) an airline which allows nobody at all to carry a gun on the flight (OK, except perhaps for Mossad and the SAS)
to me it's a no brainer as to which airline to buy a ticket on.
Could I encourage airlines to publish their policies please?
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Wino, Given the potential lawsuit that you suspect, I am more cynical than you are about the reasons for AA backing the Captain. AA apologized to the agent, and I suppose that that was prudent, but they should also have told him that once on the a/c he was outranked and that he, of all people, should have governed himself accordingly. And he of all people, a Secret Service agent for crying out loud, should appreciate the need to be on guard. It is too bad that pilots have to worry that their exercise of caution will be second-guessed by their airline and their President. E.K. Gann once quoted a pilot saying "If my ass gets there, so do the passengers'." Pax know this and will nearly unanimously side with the Captain every time. AA might try polling their sources of revenue, particularly in these days of nervous travelers.
Guv, about your "only in America" nonsense. Richard Reid and Zacarias Moussaoui attended the same London mosque. The leader of that mosque alerted the London police to the extremist activities of certain members of his flock long ago. The London police, by their own admission, did not investigate or, apparently, do anything whatsoever with the tip. By contrast an American flight instructor contacted the FBI last August about Richard Reid's mosque-mate Zacarias Moussaoui. One day later, August 16, Moussaoui was picked up by FBI and held on immigration charges, averting a possible 5th crash on 9 11. (He has since been charged for his involvement in the plot.) American security also identified Richard Reid but he was vetted and kicked by French authorities. Clearly there was a screw-up in Tampa but it doesn't appear that screw-ups are only happening in the US.
Guv, about your "only in America" nonsense. Richard Reid and Zacarias Moussaoui attended the same London mosque. The leader of that mosque alerted the London police to the extremist activities of certain members of his flock long ago. The London police, by their own admission, did not investigate or, apparently, do anything whatsoever with the tip. By contrast an American flight instructor contacted the FBI last August about Richard Reid's mosque-mate Zacarias Moussaoui. One day later, August 16, Moussaoui was picked up by FBI and held on immigration charges, averting a possible 5th crash on 9 11. (He has since been charged for his involvement in the plot.) American security also identified Richard Reid but he was vetted and kicked by French authorities. Clearly there was a screw-up in Tampa but it doesn't appear that screw-ups are only happening in the US.
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Considering that AA has lost three a/c in the last 90 days and almost lost a forth one, I can understand why the Captain is a little gun shy. A lot would depend on the agent's ATTITUDE. In my career I have carried many leo's from county sheriffs to state police, local police, FBI, DEA, Customs, US Marshalls, DSS (Diplomatic Security Service), foreign security officers, including UN security and other high profile people and the USSS. When I have run into a problem, I have talked with the leo and for the most part their attitudes have been "OK, what do WE need to do to get it fixed?" Those guys I will work with. When they pull an attitude and get on their high horse, my answer has been very simple. "GET OFF MY AIRPLANE!". I am the final authority for the safety of my aircraft. I will work with anyone who will work with me so that we can do our muyual jobs. But it is a two way street.
As for the paperwork, it better be right. We sometimes take this as a joke but there is a lot of truth in it. "It is OK to crash, but God help you if the paperwork is not right." In my career, I have been through two (2) NASIP (National Aviation Safety Inspection Program) inspection. And they are picky, they will ding you if the math in your W&B paperwork shows a error as small as one pound. I would rather do a root canal without being doped up.
There appears to be much more to this than anyone is being told. We as aviation professionals need to stay on top of this.
As for the paperwork, it better be right. We sometimes take this as a joke but there is a lot of truth in it. "It is OK to crash, but God help you if the paperwork is not right." In my career, I have been through two (2) NASIP (National Aviation Safety Inspection Program) inspection. And they are picky, they will ding you if the math in your W&B paperwork shows a error as small as one pound. I would rather do a root canal without being doped up.
There appears to be much more to this than anyone is being told. We as aviation professionals need to stay on top of this.
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A secret service agent is undoubtably trained and competent to use firearms, so are SAS etc etc.
However all that is required is some false paperwork and an armed bad guy is on board. Photo ID's can be faked - unless the agent is personally known to the captain it is impossible to fully prove his bone fides.
There can be no reason for a passenger to have firearms in the cabin. The safe and only option is for all firearms to be hold loaded.
However all that is required is some false paperwork and an armed bad guy is on board. Photo ID's can be faked - unless the agent is personally known to the captain it is impossible to fully prove his bone fides.
There can be no reason for a passenger to have firearms in the cabin. The safe and only option is for all firearms to be hold loaded.