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Carrier
Operation". Charter pilots, business aviation pilots, flight instructors, etc. those who are not operating under FAR part 121 are not eligible to participate. Applicants must be U.S. citizens and have the ability to pass extensive background checks and a psychological screening. Initially, candidate selection preference was given to airline pilots who underwent prior government weapons training including former military and law enforcement experience.
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All applicants must be airline pilots or flight engineers for a U.S. based airline and hold an appropriate FAA medical certificate. At the time of application for the FFDO position the pilots must be in an active, non-furloughed airline employment, operating under FAR part 121 "Domestic and Flag Air
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to use firearms to defend against acts of criminal violence or air piracy undertaken to gain control of their aircraft. The first flight crew members that volunteered were pilots and flight engineers assigned to fly scheduled passenger air service under the FAR 121 (Domestic and Flag Air
Carrier
172:, North Carolina. No one was injured and the aircraft landed safely. According to the FFDO, the gun fired while he was trying to stow it. The bullet went through the side of the cockpit and tore a small hole in the exterior of the plane. The plane was pulled from service for repairs.
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The exact number of active FFDOs and their distribution among airlines and flight routes is not known. Their information is not retrievable under normal law enforcement inquiry methods so as to protect their identity and the integrity of the program.
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Compact .40-caliber pistol - with the company's "LEM" trigger design - was selected for a 4-year contract in 2003 to supply as many as 9,600 pistols to FFDOs. As of 2020, DHS has started to transition both FAMS and FFDO service weapons to a 9mm
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The discharge was the result of the TSA mandated weapons carriage protocol in place at that time. There were no similar incidents before the protocol was mandated or since it has been eliminated. "
183:. When the passenger realized the bag wasn't hers, she notified a flight attendant. The FFDO's firearm was appropriately locked and secured and could not have been accessed or fired even if found.
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Training of
Federal Flight Deck Officers is similar to Federal Air Marshals (with some differences in training due to the more limited scope of FFDO powers). The initial program is conducted at a
43:, and an officer's jurisdiction is the flight deck or cabin of a commercial airliner or a cargo aircraft while on duty. FFDOs are federal law enforcement officers sworn and deputized by the U.S.
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FFDOs can exercise their authority within a specific jurisdiction. In most cases, their jurisdiction is limited to defending the flight deck of a commercial passenger or cargo airliner.
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Airline Pilot who is trained and licensed to carry weapons and defend commercial aircraft against criminal activity and terrorism. The
Federal Flight Deck Officer program is run by the
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FFDOs are issued firearms and other support equipment by the U.S. Department of
Homeland Security, but have the option to purchase their own firearm of a similar type. Previously, the
108:, physical fitness, behavioral observation, defensive tactics, emergency medical assistance, and other law enforcement techniques. Simulators are used in the training program.
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209:, leaving a loaded firearm unattended in the cockpit, after the FFDO was accused by a flight attendant of watching footage from a camera hidden in the airplane's lavatory.
104:. Their training is tailored to the role that the FFDOs will perform while on duty. Some of the specific areas covered in this training include constitutional law,
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FFDO allegedly used his firearm to assault and intimidate a fellow crew member in response to a possible diversion of the aircraft due to a medical situation.
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to develop the
Federal Flight Deck Officer program as an additional layer of security. Under this program, flight crew members are authorized by the
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FFDOs are required to undergo multiple levels of frequent weapons re-qualification training and testing throughout their active service.
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FFDO threw live ammunition in the trash before eventually deciding to flush it down the lavatory toilet on an international flight from
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ALPA: The
Federal Flight Deck Officer Program: A Model of Effectiveness and Efficiency in a Government/Industry Partnership
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signed into law legislation that expanded program eligibility to include cargo pilots and certain other flight crew.
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The United States
Federal Air Marshal Service: A Historical Perspective, 1962 - 2012: "Fifty Years of Service
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399:"Delta says pilot accused of threatening to shoot the captain no longer works for the airline"
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373:"Southwest Airlines pilots watched live video feed of plane toilet, says flight attendant"
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298:"Heckler & Koch Defense Wins Transportation Security Administration Pistol Contract"
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FFDO's bag carrying his gun was accidentally picked up by a passenger flying to
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100:(FLETC) facility by Federal Air Marshal Service instructors in
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in 2001, the Arming Pilots
Against Terrorism Act, part of the
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274:"49 U.S. Code § 44921 - Federal flight deck officer program"
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Illustration of a badge of a
Federal Flight Deck Officer
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Airline pilot authorized as a US law enforcement officer
358:"United pilot flushed live ammunition in plane toilet"
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Federal law enforcement agencies of the United States
312:US Air pilot's gun accidentally goes off on plane
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252:"APSA's Testimony to the DHS Inspector General"
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462:United States Department of Homeland Security
164:FFDO's gun went off on Flight 1536 from
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69:Transportation Security Administration
65:Transportation Security Administration
371:Padilla, Mariel (27 October 2019).
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234:"TSA:Federal Flight Deck Officers"
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427:TSA: Federal Flight Deck Officers
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397:Koenig, David (1 November 2023).
278:LII / Legal Information Institute
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75:In December 2003, President
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29:Federal Flight Deck Officer
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181:West Palm Beach, Florida
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240:on December 15, 2006.
160:On March 24, 2008, a
61:Homeland Security Act
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201:In February 2017, a
57:September 11 attacks
102:Artesia, New Mexico
262:on August 6, 2007.
212:In August 2022, a
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129:Heckler & Koch
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377:Independent
446:Categories
408:3 November
283:2023-10-23
220:References
162:US Airways
139:19 model (
382:7 January
170:Charlotte
156:Incidents
83:Selection
346:NBC News
92:Training
37:Part 121
317:Reuters
192:Houston
177:JetBlue
123:Weapons
51:History
35:) is a
196:Munich
166:Denver
141:Gen-5
137:Glock
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