Originally Posted by
gemac
I'm more disturbed by the FAs being exempted. The pilots don't really nead boxcutters or revolvers. Besides, pilots were already being allowed to board with handguns, IIRC.
It's one thing to know that your colleague pilot is an FFDO (officially armed pilot). I'll bet it's quite another to find out that your non-FFDO colleague pilot brought a gun that day (thanks to the KCM program) as he/she shoots you and repeats Sept 11. Or the EgyptAir tragedy. It's not the particular weapon - it's all about getting the drop on somebody when they aren't expecting it.
Besides, the weakness in this program, IMO, is the possibility that the KCMs are now potential unwitting mules. Between the pilots and FAs, there are almost 25,000 potential unwitting mules at AA alone. Rumours are that the FA arrested last Friday may have in fact been set up by her spouse.
The TSA still cares (a little) about the KCMs as it reserves the right to randomly screen them and the KCM program does not entitle the crewmembers to any additional exemptions from the prohibited items list. Non-FFDOs are not permitted (officially) to bring firearms or boxcutters, and there must be some reason for that.