Armed pilots. Pistols? Stun guns?

[dbaker]

Mesa Airlines announced Friday that they are arming pilots with stun guns in this article (http://www.marketwatch.com/news/yhoo/story.asp?source=blq/yhoo&siteid=yhoo&dist=yhoo&guid=%7B63C72ADD%2D850E%2D47AC%2DA4B7%2D01004F420F 42%7D).

What's the opinion of ITYT users about this issue?

Daniel

_________________
Daniel A. Baker -- dbaker@ityt.com (http://mailto:dbaker-forumsig@ityt.com) -- web page (http://www.ityt.com/dbaker/)

[dbaker]

Mesa Airlines announced Friday that they are arming pilots with stun guns in this article (http://www.marketwatch.com/news/yhoo/story.asp?source=blq/yhoo&siteid=yhoo&dist=yhoo&guid=%7B63C72ADD%2D850E%2D47AC%2DA4B7%2D01004F420F 42%7D).

What's the opinion of ITYT users about this issue?

Daniel

_________________
Daniel A. Baker -- dbaker@ityt.com (http://mailto:dbaker-forumsig@ityt.com) -- web page (http://www.ityt.com/dbaker/)

[tycoonjack]

I hear all this talk about hollow-point bullets or exploding bullets that vaporize when hitting metal, but really, is that something that you want to have on a plane? So if the plane depressurizes we are most likely not going to be sucked out like in the movies, but still, how about hitting some of the wiring, circuitry, or the worst, my luggage stowed below. Plus potential skyjackers could wear Kevlar fiber jackets and not have to worry about being shot. As for stun guns, do you really want the pilot to come out of the cockpit to subdue an individual? I’d rather the passengers deal with anything; so at most, give the flight attendants stun guns, but we don’t need a plane armed to the teeth as one Texas man on a radio talk show suggested: “Let everyone carry guns onboard, that way no one has an advantage.”

[tycoonjack]

I hear all this talk about hollow-point bullets or exploding bullets that vaporize when hitting metal, but really, is that something that you want to have on a plane? So if the plane depressurizes we are most likely not going to be sucked out like in the movies, but still, how about hitting some of the wiring, circuitry, or the worst, my luggage stowed below. Plus potential skyjackers could wear Kevlar fiber jackets and not have to worry about being shot. As for stun guns, do you really want the pilot to come out of the cockpit to subdue an individual? I’d rather the passengers deal with anything; so at most, give the flight attendants stun guns, but we don’t need a plane armed to the teeth as one Texas man on a radio talk show suggested: “Let everyone carry guns onboard, that way no one has an advantage.”

[dbaker]

A jet can withstand multiple bullet holes in the airframe and operate nominally.

See: I did not know that... aircraft trivia: (http://www.ityt.com/forums/viewtopic.php?topic=39&forum=6&10) in ITYT's "Potpourri" forum.

[dbaker]

A jet can withstand multiple bullet holes in the airframe and operate nominally.

See: I did not know that... aircraft trivia: (http://www.ityt.com/forums/viewtopic.php?topic=39&forum=6&10) in ITYT's "Potpourri" forum.

[tycoonjack]

Not if it goes into something critical (like a fuel cell)

[tycoonjack]

Not if it goes into something critical (like a fuel cell)

[RyJones]

Yeah, the fuel lines run right under the cabin floor IIRC.

Get real. An airplane is a pressure vessel. If you loaded a handgun with delrin bullets they would not only not go through the wall, they would not go over 10 feet or so. So you give pilots revolvers with 6 shots of delrin and they can shoot close range. if they miss, nothing happens.

[RyJones]

Yeah, the fuel lines run right under the cabin floor IIRC.

Get real. An airplane is a pressure vessel. If you loaded a handgun with delrin bullets they would not only not go through the wall, they would not go over 10 feet or so. So you give pilots revolvers with 6 shots of delrin and they can shoot close range. if they miss, nothing happens.

[tycoonjack]

As someone who has flown small, two-engine planes, there is the ability to transfer fuel from one side of the plane to the other. I highly doubt that larger planes do not have this capability in case of emergency, but for some reason you have to pay to get airplane schematics, so I can’t prove that.

[tycoonjack]

As someone who has flown small, two-engine planes, there is the ability to transfer fuel from one side of the plane to the other. I highly doubt that larger planes do not have this capability in case of emergency, but for some reason you have to pay to get airplane schematics, so I can’t prove that.

[Nugget]

It's just as well, I'm sure... I'll bet that as a civilian trying to buy airplane schematics these days would result in your being placed on so many Federal Agency lists that it would make your head spin.

[Nugget]

It's just as well, I'm sure... I'll bet that as a civilian trying to buy airplane schematics these days would result in your being placed on so many Federal Agency lists that it would make your head spin.

[tycoonjack]

Note to self: Buy airplane schematics with name Daniel Baker

[tycoonjack]

Note to self: Buy airplane schematics with name Daniel Baker

[daa]

most larger aircraft have no fuel transfer capablility, the DC-8 is the last one i know of that could transfer between wing tanks

the md11/777/747 can do minimal fore and aft transfers ( mostly into and out of tail)

side to side inbalances of less than 1000 lbs are not noticable and the usual cure is shutting off the boost pumps in the lighter tank

large aircraft have fuel in the wings and in a center tank between the wings , first fuel burned is the center tank fuel , wings are last, short flights are all wing fuel and empty center tanks

[daa]

most larger aircraft have no fuel transfer capablility, the DC-8 is the last one i know of that could transfer between wing tanks

the md11/777/747 can do minimal fore and aft transfers ( mostly into and out of tail)

side to side inbalances of less than 1000 lbs are not noticable and the usual cure is shutting off the boost pumps in the lighter tank

large aircraft have fuel in the wings and in a center tank between the wings , first fuel burned is the center tank fuel , wings are last, short flights are all wing fuel and empty center tanks

[RyJones]

You should not generalize from general aviation hardware. Transport class aircraft are not scaled up Cessnas.

[RyJones]

You should not generalize from general aviation hardware. Transport class aircraft are not scaled up Cessnas.