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FAMs are "gone"?

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Old Nov 20, 2011 | 8:27 am
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FAMs are "gone"?

It has been my observation (what is yours?) that the FAM program has finally decided to change their mission and actually be "undercover."

As I have posted here previously (somewhat extensively), that was *not* the original mission. The idea was that a careful observer could easily identify the FAMs on a flight. But, in my flights over the last six months (?) I have not observed an obvious FAM. And, I just realized, I don't think I have seen a post here about FAMs taking seats for quite some time.

P.S. - It is my belief that we are actually seeing two different changes. One is an intent to be undercover. The other is a significant decrease in the number of FAM operations.
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Old Nov 20, 2011 | 11:07 am
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Please don't go jynxing my flights on 11/24 & 11/27

Last edited by goalie; Nov 20, 2011 at 11:09 am Reason: fixed date
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Old Nov 20, 2011 | 2:47 pm
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I haven't noticed any either for a while. They used to be very easy to spot, since they sat in First and boarded before anyone else in First.
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Old Nov 20, 2011 | 8:09 pm
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me neither... this is a hopeful sign!
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Old Nov 21, 2011 | 10:19 am
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Originally Posted by Kevin AA
me neither... this is a hopeful sign!
I don't think so. It is the last of the year...budget has been expended, so they can't be on as many flights as before. Isn't this what the whistle-blower lawsuit was about?
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Old Nov 21, 2011 | 4:42 pm
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Originally Posted by DeafBlonde
I don't think so. It is the last of the year...budget has been expended
It's near the start of the Federal fiscal year, which started on October 1.
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Old Nov 21, 2011 | 4:47 pm
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I think it's because most of us believe the FAMs to be irrelevant and have stopped looking for them. I know I have...
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Old Nov 21, 2011 | 4:48 pm
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According to a friend of mine, who's brother is a FAM, their mission has always been to be stealthy. I won't post any of the other information he mentioned.

I suspect the people mentioned in this thread might have been other LEOs who just happened to be flying that day.
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Old Nov 21, 2011 | 6:38 pm
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LEOs don't get free upgrades to first class, carry weapons on planes or anything else. A LEO on a plane is a regular passenger.
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Old Nov 21, 2011 | 7:54 pm
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Originally Posted by catocony
LEOs don't get free upgrades to first class, carry weapons on planes or anything else. A LEO on a plane is a regular passenger.
Not true. Plenty of LEO's carry firearms on aircraft, federal, state and local. State and local need to complete a flying armed class and have a need to carry.
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Old Nov 22, 2011 | 12:32 am
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Originally Posted by Michael El
According to a friend of mine, who's brother is a FAM, their mission has always been to be stealthy. I won't post any of the other information he mentioned.

I suspect the people mentioned in this thread might have been other LEOs who just happened to be flying that day.
Many of the FAM's felt that way. But that wasn't policy. See prior threads here where I listed the changes they would need to make (about 5 of them) and it would appear that they did, in fact, make those changes.
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Old Nov 22, 2011 | 7:03 am
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Ok, but they're not sitting in first unless they're paying.

The point of this thread is that, compared to five years ago or so, when I would see a FAM sitting in F about every 8 or 9 trips, I haven't seen one in at least two years. A lot of others have said the same, since "spot the FAM" used to be a minor sport with very frequent flyers who were in F a lot.
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Old Nov 22, 2011 | 10:27 am
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Originally Posted by catocony
Ok, but they're not sitting in first unless they're paying....
I absolutely, positively guarantee that the government hasn't started paying for FAMs' seats. No way. They fly for free.

Maybe the airlines' numerous complaints -- including to Congress -- are finally being heard, and the FAMs are being relegated to coach. (Poor babies.)

Bruce
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Old Nov 22, 2011 | 12:18 pm
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Originally Posted by bdschobel
I absolutely, positively guarantee that the government hasn't started paying for FAMs' seats. No way. They fly for free.

Maybe the airlines' numerous complaints -- including to Congress -- are finally being heard, and the FAMs are being relegated to coach. (Poor babies.)

Bruce
But how are they going to stop the non-existent terrorists if they are all the way in the back?

Mike
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Old Nov 22, 2011 | 12:43 pm
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Originally Posted by mikeef
But how are they going to stop the non-existent terrorists if they are all the way in the back?

Mike
When one is sitting near the back of the plane it is much easier to see everyone else on the plane, even the ones that are not there, and observe all of the nefarious acts that are not happening.
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