tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19929098.post8672254487579377552..comments2008-03-31T18:52:33.992-07:00Crimefilehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07841397705805774698housedick@gmail.comBlogger7125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19929098.post-12867031113691502662008-03-31T18:51:00.000-07:002008-03-31T18:51:00.000-07:00I can't reveal my identity since I am an active FFDO, but I agree with most of the opinions about the weapon and carriage system foisted upon us by the bureaucratocracy. In the beginning, TSA openly declared they would never create an armed pilot force, and yielded only when directly ordered to by Congress. They set out to create a recruitment, training, and operational climate designed to discourage pilots from volunteering. In the words of a TSA official, "No pilot in his right mind would ever go through this, so if you go through this, you are not in your right mind" --- and therefore will lose your FAA medical certificate and your career. I have nothing but praise for the field-level trainers, but the DC powersuits have been obstructionist from the beginning, from choosing an unnecessarily large, clumsy, and cumbersome sidearm to the most ridiculous carriage system ever devised (one that guarantees incidents like this) to withholding training which would allow us to carry our weapons in a safe and sane manner, to making sure we are easily identifiable as we enter the sterile (secured) airport area, and more which I cannot reveal. One bit of evidence: under the three previous transport/carriage systems, there were no unintentional discharges that I know of. The USAir incident is the fifth unintentional discharge I am aware of using the current locking holster system. Excuses can be made regarding improper usage of the holster and lock, but any system which produces these kind of results is incredibly flawed. I hope it doesn't take a fatality to get this idiocy changed.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19929098.post-47684894105582278282008-01-14T20:55:00.000-08:002008-01-14T20:55:00.000-08:00Agree with you completely. I am a Chicago PD Lieutanat and my brother is a FFDO. Some of the restrictions he has told me about serve only to hinder him. Also the procedure for him to bring the firearm onto the airside identifies him as armed to anyone who is watching the checkpoints.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19929098.post-17672002211693051742008-01-11T07:49:25.966-08:002008-01-11T07:49:25.966-08:00The FFDO program uses the H&K .40 Caliber as shown in the photo. Some Air Marshalls have been given SIG Sauer pistols (P239) chambered in .357 Sig and others the H&K .40s. I suspect that it’s possible that some FFDOs were issued Sig Sauer pistols too. <BR/><BR/>When the TSA was created there were difficulties getting all the pistols from one provider. <BR/><BR/>The .357 Sig round is superior to the .40 S&W round but I would have armed both the Marshalls and Pilots with Sig P220 Pistols chambered for the .45 ACP. <BR/><BR/>Night sights and Galco classic shoulder rigs would be also be issued with special spare magazine holder that contains four spare magazines. <BR/><BR/>The dope who came up woth the pilot padlock holster should be sent to our little Cuban Island getaway with the rest of our enemies.Crimefilehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07841397705805774698noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19929098.post-80637603127194636442008-01-11T07:24:00.000-08:002008-01-11T07:24:00.000-08:00That's not a picture of a FFDO firearm. FFDOs use SIG .357 P229 firearms.ParatrooperJJnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19929098.post-38643673883195445312007-12-28T18:36:00.000-08:002007-12-28T18:36:00.000-08:00Nice article and very informational........Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19929098.post-62413150208371866982007-12-28T16:50:00.000-08:002007-12-28T16:50:00.000-08:00Damn Paul, I don't know what to say! You've said it all.<BR/><BR/>Happy New Year.It's Not All Realhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00073783135894732527noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19929098.post-26215903725460963522007-12-28T13:17:00.000-08:002007-12-28T13:17:00.000-08:00The TSA has been THE problem since its inception.<BR/><BR/>Totally<BR/>Stupid <BR/>AdministratorsTheBronzehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06636056122240966943noreply@blogger.com