Personally, I was ecstatic to find out an airline executive finally had the guts to stand up and say the FAM program was wasteful given other mechanisms that will prevent the takeover of an aircraft are equally, if not more effective.

He also made it clear the FAM program was responsible for 'taking' First Class seats, against the wishes of the airline, and they didn't like it one bit.

Given the hardened flight deck doors, the expectation of TSA screeners to keep guns off the plane, the willingness of passengers to intervene when they feel threatened, and the expectation that flight crews will never, ever ever ever open that flight deck door under duress or threat, we can conclude the FAM program is pretty much unnecessary.

Even if some evidence shows the presence of the FAMs *could* improve security (by helping the sheeple to feel safer), I see no reason (and nor does CO) for them to occupy First Class seats - except only as an issue of comfort.

HUGE kudos to CO for taking a verbal stand on the issue!