<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by NickP 1K:
As a LAST use weapon if the cockpit is penetrated "MAYBE"
However to keep the main cabin, safe, "NO"... I don't believe the cockpit door should EVER be opened during a cabin incident - no matter what the situation, the fastest possible divert... DON'T EVER compromise the cockpit doot to fix a situation in the cabin. Once you open the door for a crewmember to go out with the weapon - the game could be up ....
[This message has been edited by NickP 1K (edited 04-19-2003).]</font>
I agree .... if they consider it's use to protect the passengers, then I disagree wholeheartedly. In order to do that, they have to open the cockpit door and that's a potential repeat of 9/11. If it's a last resort to stop access/abuse of the cockpit then I agree.
I haven't checked the specifics, but I'm hoping the gun has to be a locked case and without ammo within the airport itself.
Personally, I liked the idea of the monitors being placed in the plane so the pilots can see what was happening in the cabin without opening the door. That seems a more effective solution as they'd be aware of what was happening and be able to prepare for an attempt to access the cockpit (remove the surprise factor) as well as have the possibility of an emergency landing attempt and/or an SOS call.