FFDO lost gun @ PHL

MikeD said:
Since when are FFDOs police officers? :)
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Technically they're deputized federal law enforcement officers operating under the Department of Homeland Security through the TSA Law Enforcement Division. Not exactly police officers perhaps, but definitely in federal law enforcement.
 
FloridaLarry said:
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Somehow, the FFDO program seems to have been invented by the same people who thought up TSA ( the airport wannabees, not Trans States!). Not much wrong w/ it; just an ineffective attempt at doing something. Has an FFDO ever used their weapon for its purpose, rather than just having an occasional accident requiring duct tape and an entry on the MEL list?
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I don't think an FFDO has thwarted an attack. Then again I can't think of many attempted breaches of a cockpit door. Or at least no attempted breaches in a coordinated Jihad style attack.

One loco customer isn't going to get in before he's thumped by a bunch of pax. 10 guys with improvised weapons and coordination could definitely have a go at it.
 
mshunter said:
I don't think they are allowed to be "officers" outside of the flight deck.
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Smallest jurisdiction in the sky!

Not sure about your state, but I was covered too/ from work for transport only. Had my CCW so I could stop along the way. ( had to drive through NYC, NY and Mass on the way to NH)

The state transport law is public law/record not SSI ( in case Google is wondering)
 
FloridaLarry said:
They'd have to have signed on as some sort of auxiliary to their local PD or Sherrif's Dept.

Of course, they have to transport their weapon in its baby gun safe from the airport to the home gun safe & back (unless there's a convenient Janitor's Closet near the gate :def: ). Depending on state law, they may need a concealed-carry permit for that transport.

Somehow, the FFDO program seems to have been invented by the same people who thought up TSA ( the airport wannabees, not Trans States!). Not much wrong w/ it; just an ineffective attempt at doing something. Has an FFDO ever used their weapon for its purpose, rather than just having an occasional accident requiring duct tape and an entry on the MEL list?
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Hard to say how overall effective the program has been. Could be said that it's never been used to deter anything, so it's effectiveness is in question. Or could be said that its deterrence factor of one never knowing if there is someone armed up front or not, has ever made someone think twice (assuming the idea of an FFDO is some kind of common knowledge). But in terms of actively preventing some kind of attempted break into or through the cockpit door and into the cockpit, you're right that it has yet to be seen.

Personally, I think the FFDO program is fine, but I think the more important "weapon" a crew up front has, is the radio, yoke, throttles, and ability to communicate a problem quickly, while getting on the ground quickly. Even so far as tossing someone around in back who is trying to get through a cockpit door if need be, Vomit Comet style.
 
NickH said:
So more effective than TSA then.
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Just another layer. Although I'm one who thought we never needed the TSA, since the security we had prior to 9/11, there was nothing wrong with the physical security in terms of the terrorists getting through security with illegal items. The items list just needed to be revised. We certainly didn't need the creation of an entire huge bureaucracy that is now bloated and growing. But....we got the window dressing and perception of security that we collectively as a nation were demanding, and now there's no way to get rid of it.
 
MikeD said:
Just another layer. Although I'm one who thought we never needed the TSA, since the security we had prior to 9/11, there was nothing wrong with the physical security in terms of the terrorists getting through security with illegal items. The items list just needed to be revised. We certainly didn't need the creation of an entire huge bureaucracy that is now bloated and growing. But....we got the window dressing and perception of security that we collectively as a nation were demanding, and now there's no way to get rid of it.
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Remember, "To professionalize, you must Federalize."
 
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So, first we're protected by TSA.

Then, in some cases, by Air Marshals.

Then, in some cases, by stalwart fellow passengers who can't cooperate to stow luggage, but will tackle miscreants and psychos until a 97 lb flight attendant can get the Flexi-Cuffs on 'em.

Then, in all cases, by cockpit doors.

Then, in some cases, by FFDOs.

Then by a pilot willing (presumably trained and then tested by the FAA) to do the Vomit Comet and thump 'em off the ceiling, thump 'em off the floor (repeat as needed).

I guess I can cancel my insurance before I sit in the back of a plane next time. But I'd better keep it for the trip to and from the airport.
 
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