Jim Yanik wrote:
Cockpit defense need not be rocket science.


The biggest mistake I see people making in the discussion of cockpit defense is
the assumption that any one obstacle will be adequate, combined with a rather
rigid assumption of probable conditions.

Cockpit defense should begin with a good screening of passengers. Skip the old
ladies and the blonde hair/blue eyed crowd. Right now the enemy is of Middle
Eastern descent. Concentrate efforts on those who fit the profile; forget any
crap about what's fair and what's not. We're not playing football here.

Air marshalls in the cabin should be the second line of defense. I recognize
there are nowhere near enough of them now, but it should be a goal. I'm not
opposed to police officers and those with concealed carry permits carrying guns
in the cabin either. Every one of them has had an extensive background check.
We need to mix a few porcupines in with the wolves. We can't afford to all be
sheep anymore.

The armored cockpit door should be the next layer. I know they are not
bulletproof, but if they can help keep out the hordes, so much the better.

The final layer should be the pilot. I've heard it said numerous times that a
pilot's time is best spent flying, but that's a difficult thing to do with his
throat cut. The possibility that he may hit an innocent has to balanced against
the probable deaths of all aboard if the hijack is not stopped (and God knows
how many on the ground). I'll take my chances with a hull puncture... once
again, the alternative is too costly to consider.

The TSA needs to get up off its collective ass and get the program running...
not continue to practice passive resistance to the intent of Congress.

Let's face it: the days of the "peaceful" hijack are over. Nobody wants to go
to Cuba anymore. Hijacking now lead to the deaths of all aboard if they're
successful. We can't allow that.

If the airlines don't trust their pilots with guns, why did they hire them?

Frankly, if the passengers don't trust their pilot with a gun, why would they be
on a plane? I'm sure they could find an unarmed bus driver or train engineer
more to their liking.

Time to get up off the dime!



--
Mortimer Schnerd, RN


http://www.mortimerschnerd.com