Prepared for
Dr. Rodney Smith
Professor of Business English
University of Dubuque

Prepared by
Kate Bernard
University of Dubuque

April 30, 2003

Introduction

Recent concerns over airline security have prompted the Federal Flight Deck Officer Program, which allows select airline pilots to carry guns in the cockpit.

Purpose and Scope

This report analyzes the risks and benefits associated with arming airline pilots and recommends ways to ensure security while minimizing risk.

This report focuses on the views of aviation-related organizations concerned with this topic. This report will discuss benefits, risks, and alternatives as presented by these organizations.

This report does not consider the opinions of the general public or organizations not affiliated with aviation.

Method

The information presented in this report comes from online sources and discussions with airline pilots.

Background for the topic came from organizations' web sites as well as online news media. Opinions of organizations, including their assessment of benefits and risks, came from official press releases of the organizations. Some of these press releases are included in the appendix to this report.

 Limitations

The topic of this report is highly controversial and organizations are biased in their opinions. I am not an airline pilot nor an airline representative and therefore cannot prove whether the opinions in this report are valid. However, these organizations represent thousands of people, so their information should be reliable.

History of the Federal Flight Deck Officer Program

The September 11th Terrorist Attack

On September 11, 2001, four hijacked airliners crashed in the eastern United States, killing everyone on board as well as thousands on the ground. Two of the airliners struck the twin towers of New York City's World Trade Center. The towers caught fire, and many people were not able to escape before the buildings collapsed. A third airliner struck the Pentagon in Washington, D.C. The fourth crashed in Pennsylvania before the hijacker could reach his intended destination.

This security breach resulted in over 3,000 deaths and billions of dollars of property damage. It rocked the U.S. economy, especially the airline industry, causing thousands of layoffs. A year and a half later, neither the economy nor the airline industry has recovered.

The threat of terrorism still exists. The U.S. Government continues to receive indications that additional terrorist operations are being planned. If terrorists are able to hijack another commercial airliner and cause additional loss of life, the ailing airline industry could completely fall apart.

The Need for Increased Airline Security

Increased security is necessary to prevent aircraft hijackings like those of September 11th. The current security measures that were in place were not enough that day. The hijackers managed to smuggle weapons onboard and breach the cockpit doors. The unarmed pilots, operating in the close confines of the cockpit, were unable to defend themselves.

After September 11, 2001, the federal government mandated changes in security procedures that would lessen the risk of armed hijackers gaining control of aircraft. Airports had to upgrade their baggage screening equipment. Baggage screeners became federal employees. Airlines had to install reinforced cockpit doors. These three mandates were met with some opposition but were successfully followed. However, the federal decision to arm pilots with guns remains controversial.

Although there is consensus that airline security is a priority, groups have different opinions on how to effectively increase security. The Bush administration and the airlines generally oppose arming pilots with deadly weapons. Pilots and the public generally support the decision. However, opinions within groups are divided as well.

The Federal Flight Deck Officer Program

The new Federal Flight Deck Officer (FFDO) Program allows trained pilots to carry guns in the cockpit and use them against hijackers. The federal government created this program as a provision of the Homeland Security Act of 2002.

Pilots may participate in the program on a voluntary basis. The initial 48 participants were nominated by their unions. They attended training in April 2003. 44 of these pilots graduated training and were sworn in as federal flight deck officers on April 19. The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) will evaluate this initial class for at least three weeks before deciding to eliminate or modify the program. Another class may be held as soon as late June 2003.

Federal flight deck officers are pilots who are certified as law enforcement officers. They must undergo the same rigorous physical and psychological testing as police officers. Not every applicant will qualify to be an FFDO.

The current FFDO legislation requires pilots to secure their guns in lock boxes when outside the cockpit and carry them in nondescript bags. Pilots may not bring their guns outside the cockpit unless they are in the lock box. In other words, pilots are not allowed to resolve a situation in the passenger area. FFDOs who are aboard the aircraft but not on duty must store their gun in the cargo hold. When in the cockpit, FFDOs must store their guns in holsters.

Views of Organizations

Air Line Pilots Association, International (ALPA) - http://www.alpa.org

• ALPA represents 66,000 airline pilots at 42 airlines in the United States and Canada.
• According to its press releases, ALPA supports arming pilots with deadly weapons but opposes carrying guns in lock boxes.

Air Transport Association (ATA) - http://www.airlines.org

• ATA is the only trade organization for the principal United States airlines.
• ATA supports increasing security of airliners but does not support arming pilots with deadly weapons.

Transportation Security Administration (TSA) - http://www.tsa.gov

• The TSA is a government agency that protects the United States transportation systems to ensure freedom of movement for people and commerce.
• The TSA supports arming pilots with deadly weapons and is responsible for creating the FFDO Program.

Airline Pilots' Security Alliance (APSA) - http://www.secure-skies.org

• APSA is a grassroots group of professional airline pilots from every major airline in the United States.
• APSA supports arming pilots with deadly weapons.

Benefits and Risks of Arming Pilots

A Note About Benefits and Risks

Although there are a higher number of risks than benefits listed below, the importance of each must be considered. A certain amount of value must be placed on each of the benefits and risks. There are more risks listed but this does not necessarily mean the risks outweigh the benefits. The issue of arming pilots can be resolved by deciding which of the following items are most important.

Benefits

According to the Air Line Pilots Association (ALPA):

• Armed pilots are the last line of defense against terrorism. Even if potential hijackers make it past other security measures, they may not be able to gain control of the cockpit if the pilots are armed.
• Armed pilots can protect the lives of passengers and crew. Not every airliner has an air marshal onboard, so armed pilots may be a substitute.
• Armed pilots can protect people and property on the ground. By defending the cockpit against hijackers, pilots can maintain control of the aircraft.
• Without guns, pilots may not be able to defend themselves against stronger weapons used by hijackers. Hijackers may use firearms or explosives in a future attack.
• Terrorists are less likely to attempt to hijack an aircraft with an armed crew. Guns in the cockpit, whether they are ever fired or not, may be enough to deter potential hijackers.

Risks

According to the Air Transport Association (ATA):

• Accidental firings could kill or injure passengers or crew. Guns could be a hazard rather than a safety feature.
• Weapons could be used against passengers or crew. Pilots who graduate the FFDO program could "turn against" people in their own aircraft. Other industries (the postal service, for example) have experienced incidences where employees committed acts of violence.
• No one knows how a bullet could harm the aircraft. No studies have been done to show the results of firing a gun in a cockpit. There is concern that a bullet could pierce the hull of the fuselage and depressurize the aircraft, or strike the instrument panel and cause loss of certain control functions.
• Pilots may not be able to use a gun in the cockpit. Airliner cockpits are relatively small and cramped with instruments and controls. The airlines are concerned about whether there is enough space to successfully fire a gun at an intruder.

According to ALPA and ATA:

• Carrying guns in lock boxes makes them vulnerable to theft. According to the FBI, weapons are most likely to be stolen when not carried on one's person.
• Liability issues arise from the lock box requirement. Who will be liable if a weapon is lost or stolen&emdash;the airline, the TSA, the FFDO, or a combination of them?
• Rules regarding loss or theft are unclear. Airlines do not know whether they would have to evacuate a terminal or change schedules as a result of lost or stolen FFDO weapons.

Alternatives

Three alternatives to arming pilots with lethal weapons are non-lethal weapons, air marshals, and increased airport security.

• Non-lethal weapons include "stun guns" or tasers. These weapons may not be effective against armed hijackers.
• Air marshals aboard aircraft are armed passengers that can defend the aircraft. There are not enough air marshals to cover every flight in the United States.
• Increased airport security reduces the potential for weapons to be smuggled onto aircraft. Screening equipment varies at each airport. Not all passengers must submit to the same screening procedures. Weapons such as all-plastic guns are being developed and could make it through security checks.

Conclusions and Recommendations

1. Pilots should be allowed to carry guns. If the pilots of the hijacked airliners on September 11, 2001 had been carrying guns, the tragedy might not have happened. If other security measures fail, pilots are the last line of defense against hijackers gaining control of the aircraft.

2. The TSA should continue to require rigorous training and testing for FFDOs. Proper training can minimize the risks associated with carrying and using weapons aboard aircraft. Testing can ensure that only qualified applicants are given a weapon.

3. The TSA should require FFDOs to carry guns on their person at all times. Due to the risk of loss and theft, the lock box restriction should be removed. FFDOs should be allowed to carry their guns in a holster on their person.

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