Gun in the cockpit

[cobb]

Say what you want about the holster

And I will, it is a very poorly and dangerous design. The coupled with the airlines policies, it is a wonder it hasn't happened sooner.

[Aceq2jot]

I can understand having one in the chamber when your carrying, but when you are behind a secure door and have enough time to rack the slide and have a holster where the lock goes through by the trigger, you dont have to be Einstien. How the hell did the pilot pass the class to carry on a plane ?? A rocket scientist could tell you with that setup you use if for an unloaded gun.

The holster is actually a good idea as it is designed for you to use when carrying and then gives you the option to secure a unloaded gun

[aviator]

He should secure it at the gate, before leaving the cockpit.

[cobb]

The holster is actually a good idea as it is designed for you to use when carrying and then gives you the option to secure a unloaded gun

Exactly. So who is responsible for the goofy regulations, that is if it is procedure to lock a handgun with one in the chamber in the holster?

[westberg]

I'm more embarrased for the holster maker. I can't believe someone that knows about guns thought this was actually a good idea (assuming it's not photochopped).

I just came across an ad for this holster in Guns & Weapons Feb 2008, its a Galco Holster. The ad mentions the lock is inserted between the back of the trigger and trigger guard, so even if the leather is cut away the lock will keep the trigger from being pulled. The ads says it provides "Level 10 security".
Maybe they should have a disclaimer do not use at 30,000 feet.

[cobb]

lock is inserted between the back of the trigger and trigger guard

Well that would explain what would happen if the lock was put through the trigger guard and in front of the trigger. Pushing down would allow the handgun to fully seat in the holster and the shackle would try to go where the holster was designed for it to be positioned, behind the trigger. Which would be a problem if the shackle starts out in front of the trigger.

[hammAR]

Inadequate handgun rules designed by Department of Homeland Security officials are to blame for last weekend's accidental discharge of a pistol by a commercial pilot during landing preparations, a pilots association said yesterday.

"The pilot has to take his gun off and lock it up before he leaves the cockpit, so he was trying to secure the gun in preparation for landing, while he was trying to fly the airplane, too," said David Mackett, president of the Airline Pilots Security Alliance. "In the process of doing that, the padlock that is required to be inserted into the holster pulled the trigger and caused the gun to discharge."

APSA, an organization of pilots who lobby Congress on aviation security issues, said the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) has refused to adopt standard carriage rules recommended last year by the Federal Air Marshal Service.

"We complained to DHS two years ago that this was an unsafe rule," Mr. Mackett said.

[nyffman]

That's insane. When Dean first posted the holster picture, I thought it was photoshop joke. Now I find out, it's a TSA joke. And it's not even that funny.

[rucker]

That's insane. When Dean first posted the holster picture, I thought it was photoshop joke. Now I find out, it's a TSA joke. And it's not even that funny.

So did I the first time I scanned the thread

[Aceq2jot]

The holster is actually a good idea as it is designed for you to use when carrying and then gives you the option to secure a unloaded gun

Exactly. So who is responsible for the goofy regulations, that is if it is procedure to lock a handgun with one in the chamber in the holster?

That is the same thing i am wondering? Was it policey to place a loaded gun in the holster or was it the pilot himself making a error ?? They are the questions to be asked.

[jwinker]

So let me get this right...

The pilot has a gun with that ridiculous looking and overly-complicated bike lock which he/she removes while IN FLIGHT (when anything going wrong could result in disaster) and relocks it when getting ready to land (when he/she is the most focused on flying the plane). And this is to prevent a hijacking, right? So if you were a hijacker, you know the pilots have loaded guns in the cockpit. You also know that while they're not total pushovers, most pilots aren't exactly catching flies with chopsticks on their days off, if you know what I mean.



^^^ Can't fly a plane



^^^ Flying a plane

I mean, I guess that scenerio makes more sense than having the bike lock locked while in flight since it would take the pilot 90 seconds to unlock and unholster his weapon in the event that something did happen. By that time, the assailant could easily render him useless with that nail clipper and bottle of baby formula they slipped through security. But if that's the case, then when is the lock supposed to prevent the gun from being fired? When they're walking through the airport? And how many times has that scenerio happened or almost happened?

And this is supposed to make us as passengers feel safer? Really?!!?