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Arming Our Pilots

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Trollolo
Posts: 793 - Karma: 16

Just curious what you guys think about this.

We trust pilots with the lives of hundreds of people on board, thousands of times a day. And when you consider a plane to be a weapon, we trust them with thousands. I can't remember the last time a pilot tried to intentionally crash a plane or used it as a weapon, where he could have used a gun to get his way/fend of passengers, etc. I sincerely believe there would have been a different story on 9/11 if our pilots had a pistol. Obviously we still need border security, but talk about a deterent for hijacking. I think even if America did this for domestic flights only it would help. I mean we might not want Iran-Air flying in with pistols, but I mean even if all NATO nations got together it would be a big step.

 So my question is, why not? Whats the rational arguement against this? "They might murder someone on board."? I think as a society we need to trust people more. If someone wanted to kill me they could just run me down in there car, thats why I'm ussually for concealed carry of a handgun if they can pass a background check, etc, etc.

 I'm generally pretty pro-gun, but I'm open to hear some rational arguements against allowing a pilot to defend himself and his passengers.

Fire away.

Aug 26 2010 10:41AM
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PhaedeD
Posts: 11498 - Karma: 327
i carry heat on the plane... gotta love them plastic glocks.
Aug 26 2010 1:59PM
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=Carson=
Posts: 665 - Karma: 24
Ooo you like shooting those plastic bullets>?
Aug 26 2010 2:00PM
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Trollolo
Posts: 793 - Karma: 16
Pretty sure I terrorist can't just tap you on the shoulder while your flying a plane. People would be screaming and he would be trying to break down the cockpit door........................
Aug 26 2010 3:18PM
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PhaedeD
Posts: 11498 - Karma: 327
carbon fiber.
Aug 26 2010 3:40PM
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An10a_Eng
Posts: 2505 - Karma: 26
most flights dont have them. a guy at my parents church is an air marshall and he just flies between the us and tel aviv israel
Aug 26 2010 3:40PM
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An10a_Eng
Posts: 2505 - Karma: 26
Egypt Air flight 990...the first officer intentionally crashed
Aug 26 2010 3:45PM
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0ptions
Posts: 2198 - Karma: 60
Huh? In today's world if someone tries to hijack a plane with a shank the people on that plane are going to jump him. In fact, I can't realistically envision a hijack scenario in which the passengers don't do anything. If they don't chances are they won't live, might as well go down fighting.
Aug 26 2010 4:02PM
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ECB
Posts: 6991 - Karma: 622
thanks man, i understand all of what you said about not being able to walk in and everything, I've done so much research, talked to a ton of people, visited schools, and now I'm finally flying.


And yea, when I get my 1500 hours in, I'll probably only get a job that makes 30k a year to start with, but, I'm doing what I love, even if the pay is shit, and I'll be happy.

Also, after years of doing it, you can make a very nice salary....
Aug 26 2010 8:53PM
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FerrisBueller
Posts: 8280 - Karma: 5,173
frontier and untied, yes
Aug 26 2010 8:56PM
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charmander
Posts: 10636 - Karma: 370
when it comes down to it, i'd take a bullet to protect ten people, let alone a whole plane full of people.

hell if you were one of those ten people i still wouldnt regret it because it'd be saving 9 other people who deserve to live.

Aug 26 2010 8:59PM
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Panda-Please.
Posts: 179 - Karma: 18
i'm sorry for your loss, and i respect your idea. However what your saying is you consider everyone a terrorist. plus nowadays if a plane got hijaked, which i don't see how it could considering all of the airport security, don't you think the people sitting by would not let it happen. nobody wants 9/11.

also if it makes you feel better, my friends dad died on flight 93. and my other friends dad was in the twin towers.
Aug 26 2010 9:10PM
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1337
Posts: 31054 - Karma: 29,246
has nobody really brought up the point of some other form of weapon that isn't a gun?

if so, wow.
Aug 26 2010 9:18PM
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ECB
Posts: 6991 - Karma: 622
like a machete?

or a pet snake?
Aug 26 2010 9:21PM
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nickyp
Posts: 5673 - Karma: 215
This
Aug 26 2010 9:23PM
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1337
Posts: 31054 - Karma: 29,246
quiet down the rest of the flight too
Aug 26 2010 9:25PM
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ECB
Posts: 6991 - Karma: 622
Like air force guns on planes?
Aug 26 2010 9:26PM
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1337
Posts: 31054 - Karma: 29,246
taser, non lethal projectile, dart, etc

could be placed in a concealable weapon of sorts, and only have a cartridge of 3 or 5 shots.
Aug 26 2010 9:29PM
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Funnel
Posts: 7815 - Karma: 1,531
TSA doesn't do shit. My friend went on a cruise to AK and when they flew back, his dad accidentally left a knife in his carry-on. Like a 5" knife, not a little Swiss Army knife. Made it fine right through security. How's that for protection?
Aug 27 2010 2:35AM
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hue.
Posts: 1518 - Karma: 220
personally, i dont think a gun is the right answer, because with guns theres the risk of fucking up the plane, killing another passenger, and if you did successfully shoot someone, 1, its wouldn't go over well with news, shooting someone infront of the possibility of children on the plane, and 2, do you really want to have a dead body on your plane while in the middle of the atlantic? I think they should be armed with high powered tazers, thus decreasing the risk of hurting the plane or other passengers, and not having to deal with a dead body.

Also if they where to have fire arms or tazers they should have extensive training, because the last thing we need is the terrorist getting ahold of the gun on the plane
Aug 27 2010 2:52AM
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speedy29
Posts: 868 - Karma: 10
I remember the pilots from back when my mom worked for the flight department for an airline.....so I have to say its a BAD idea. Hey lets give guns to people in a high stress career many who are borderline alcoholics, anger issues, god complexes, and exmilitery types. Next we should allow guns on college campuses. These type of people are the ones who shouldnt have guns in emergencies as said earlier when the doors are shut they WONT open for anyone outside unless the pilots open them. And before any of you get all upity the majority of pilots are great stand up people and would no doubt do the best they could to in any emergency situation their are still undoubtedly quite a few pilots in the air that under no circumstances should have a gun when shit hits the fan and if you disagree you should probably go play in traffic now,
Aug 27 2010 2:54AM
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nickyp
Posts: 5673 - Karma: 215
Werd. They should routinely put everyone to sleep on planes. I'd rather enter a gas-induced sleep than listen to a baby screaming for 7 hours on both legs of a flight
Aug 27 2010 7:52AM
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neutralzombie
Posts: 8629 - Karma: 606
feel free to contribute to the thread for once.
Aug 27 2010 10:28AM
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ifli
Posts: 449 - Karma: 21
I agree with arming the pilots but if your saying we should trust the pilot with a gun how bout we just go ahead and trust that the people flying on the plane won't hijack it. Its really sad the society doesn't trust the people with flying to the point that they have to give pilots weapons. But somebody always has to fuck up a good thing for the rest of the people so I say guns and ammo for all pilots and crew.
Aug 27 2010 10:38AM
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fujarome
Posts: 8630 - Karma: 1,561
when you think about it, that would be ideal. Keep the passengers awake until you reach cruising altitude so they can still respond if there's an accident/see the city from above. Then knock em out for the duration, and wake them up just before landing, again so they can react to an accident.

it would minimize jet lag and could make things more efficient. They burn a ton of gas trying to avoid turbulence just for the sake of the passenger's comfort. Knock them out, problem solved.
Aug 27 2010 10:54AM
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TOAST.
Posts: 7482 - Karma: 36,053
But then if something were to happen mid-flight the passengers would not be able to react.
Aug 27 2010 11:31AM
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BravoWhiskey5280
Posts: 4020 - Karma: 520
Pilots can carry guns on the plane if they want too. In fact my dad who is a 737 captain for continental carries a firearm. Any pilot can carry a gun, they just have to take training courses on firearm safety, hand to hand combat, and other defense training.

Domestic flights are the only flights that pilots are allowed to carry handguns on though.
Aug 27 2010 12:37PM
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Trollolo
Posts: 793 - Karma: 16
Sick haha I'm flying continental to vegas Monday, I feel safer...
Aug 27 2010 1:05PM
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molsongolden
Posts: 1649 - Karma: 162
I just need to vent about how much of a joke the majority of TSA agents are. I don't think half of them could sprint down a hallway unless it was to chase a donut cart.

.22's won't stop a person unless you managed to somehow shoot them in the eye, they would take multiple shots and keep coming at you.

Give pilots stun guns and/or non-lethal pellet guns? I would be worried about a gun being fired repeatedly on an airplane. Too many people in the line of fire and too much of an issue with pressurization and such. But also pilots should probably just secure the cockpit and emergency land somewhere instead of leaving the cockpit door open to come out and try to win a fight?
Aug 27 2010 1:14PM
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fujarome
Posts: 8630 - Karma: 1,561
well like what? its not like passengers need to react if the plane starts crashing. If someone wakes up and tries to hijack the plane you still have the cockpit door sealed.
Aug 27 2010 1:49PM
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remove
Posts: 2566 - Karma: 1,026
something like the movie airplane happens!
Aug 27 2010 2:02PM
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1337
Posts: 31054 - Karma: 29,246
no need to pay .00001 cents a customer for in flight "concessions" either
Aug 27 2010 2:07PM
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r0dubs
Posts: 1764 - Karma: 19

There are four things that might happen if a person were to fire a gun on an airplane:

* The bullet simply goes through the aluminum skin of the plane and punches a small hole as it exits.
* The bullet hits a window and blows it out.
* The bullet hits wiring hidden in the walls or the floor.
* The bullet hits a fuel tank.

If the bullet simply punctures the skin of an airplane, then it's no big deal. The cabin of the airplane is pressurized and the hole creates a small leak, but the pressurization system will compensate for it. A single hole, or even a few holes like this, will have no effect.

If the bullet blows out a window, that's a problem. When the window blows, the plane will depressurize over the course of several seconds. Since all of the air in the cockpit is rushing toward the missing window, a lot of debris will be heading in that direction with it. If the person sitting next to the window is not strapped in, then it's possible that he or she will get sucked out -- another good reason to wear your safety belt at all times!vvvvvvv
Aug 27 2010 2:09PM
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family_vacation
Posts: 6200 - Karma: 7,840
lulz
Aug 27 2010 2:14PM
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