Trust me the word is out on this board. It's only going to get better. hehehe ^

I am loving this Sgt Rock comic book stuff all you FAMs and FAM impostors. Rough and tough and "lock and loaded" and all let's "rock and roll."

Keep it coming boys! It's great entertainment and such a great break from real life. Funny, too.

If someone was actually out there who wanted to blow something up, it would have happened dozens and dozens and dozens of times since 9/11. Do you think there is a shortage of unguarded targets equally as imnportant as airplanes? I mean if terror is the goal, lots and lots of little bombs would work just fine.

I just don't get this obsession with airplanes. It clearly a case of fighting the last war, of closing the barn door 'cause the horse has escaped.

I would feel so foolish riding around in airplanes looking for a threat that is very likely over and done with. But, hey, if it makes you FEEL safe, take your favorite blankey, a huggable stuffed animal, pop your thumb in your mouth and stroke your pistol all you like.

Doesn't make me feel safer and it sure as heck doesn't actually make anyone safer.

Best wishes,

Teacher49

Spif is starting to sound more and more like Dave Adams or Tom Quinn. They seem to be angry, self centered losers to. Besides, the revenue loss is irrelevent due to most bussiness class seats being filled by frequent flyers for no additional cost to them. Get off your high horse Spif. You put on your pants just like anyone else, but I am sure you dont believe that either.

When an airline chooses to give its premium seats to passengers, it is to build loyalty, which brings in more revenue. That results in a positive cash flow situation. Just because a seat is sometimes used as an incentive instead of sold, is no excuse to steal it.

Should the government be allowed to steal seats at sports events because they don't all sell out? Should it be allowed to steal food from grocery stores because sometimes there is a 2 for 1 sale? Should all assets that are not sold be subject to confiscation? Got any extra space in your home, Citizen?

Instead of feeble attempts to dispense personal insults, you might try thinking some of these things through before blathering on about how people you've never met supposedly view themselves.

The airlines did choose to lobby for and enact the ATSA, including the provisions for the FAM program. I don't care what Leo and the other gasbags said in front of a congressional sub-committee. Any statement that Fams are the cause of any lost revenue is a pathetic attempt to divert attention away from a failed business plan that is based on the smoke & mirrors economy of the 90's.

I have not personally seen the numbers, but I have been told by several people in the airline industry that the percentage of full-fare seats sold in FC is now between 18-20%. Take that for what it's worth, but you can be certain that the solid majoity of passengers in FC are upgrades and non-rev airline employees.

The airline industry was headed for the sh&tter before 9/11. There were simply too many planes, not enough passengers, and their labor costs were out of control, period. The G should never have bailed them out to the extent they did. We should have let United or USAir go tits up like in any other industry. Mi dos cevtavos.

Instead of feeble attempts to dispense personal insults, you might try thinking some of these things through before blathering on about how people you've never met supposedly view themselves.[/QUOTE]


How about a little twist on that. Just insert do their jobs, instead of view themselves. You just made my argument. Of course there will be a witty response, that I am breathlessly awaiting. And before you say it, no I do not have anything better to do. I am sitting home on 3 weeks vacation that you are paying for. HAHA. I am also driving so that I don't have to deal with the likes of you.

Lets hear the wisdom of the exhaulted Spiff

Nevermind. The action occurred between the time I opened the page and the time I read it.

I joined this forum a few days ago. I was just going to put my two cents worth in and go, as a few other of my co-workers had. I thought it over and decided that I would take up bocastephen up on the above offer.

I am indeed a "Federal Air Marshal". As my first two posts a couple of day's ago show, I was upset with what I viewed as uneducated, unknowing, and selfish views. However, upon scrolling through more and more of the posts here it became apparent that not all fit that bill of goods, so I decided to continue to post. I realize I am opening myself up to all kinds of typewritten abuse, but after 15 years as a peace officer, I have seen alot worse than angry emails and forum posts.

In my case as I stated before I have been a peace officer for 15 years. It also happens that aviation has been on of my "hobbies" since I was a child. I have extensive experience in aviation over and above my professional work. I am also a member of a couple major frequent flyer programs, fly for family and other business frequently (over and above my work as a FAM). This is getting long. I will post further if someone wants to actually hear my opinion on some of the matters being discussed here. Thank you.

There is nothing secret about off duty air marshal's. They are off duty. Early on several tried to use their positions to get free "bennies" and upgrades. It ended up costing them their jobs. The airline industry keeps track of this very well, and anytime a FAM has tried to do this based upon being a FAM, HQ has heard the phone ring very quickly from the Airlines Corporate Office. Could a FAM have a friend or contact within the airline and get some "special" treatment. Could happen. Just like happens all the time with a wide variety of people in the world. If they get caught accepting these special favors from their friends, it would be their job. Again, the Airline Corporate Offices watch this like hawks, and if was an ongoing problem of off duty air marshal's showing up, claiming seats for themselves, and valued frequent flyers were being denied benefits due to this, it would be up before HQ, and congress in a heart beat. The airline industry has a powerful lobby, and the ear of many lawmakers.

Thanks for the reasonably thought out response. I have some questions that I've wondered about Air Marshalls. Don't you get extrememly bored with your job? How do you fight the urge to fall asleep? Do you chat with passengers in a friendly manner or are you standoffish? How is the pay for you guys...it kinda seems like a thankless job because every flight is uneventful so I hope the pay is at least OK!

Yes the job can get boring. But compare it to a beat cop out on patrol on a series of long, slow nights. Same kind of thing. We just have to stay alert and keep in our minds why we are there. In my case excercise and trying to eat right, and get a sleep pattern around my work schedule help me stay awake. (Plus adding a little caffeine when needed LOL)

Every Air Marshal is an individual, so its just like anyone else some may be talkative, some may be reclusive. I try to just be an everyday "joe".

Pay is standard Government pay for a law enforcement officer, over several pay grades depending upon experience and years of service. I have no complaints. Some portions such as locality pay for cost of living adjusments in certain high cost cities do not match private sector benefits, but it is still ok.

Base pay for sky marshals ranges from $35k to $80k, plus locality pay, overtime and other premium pay, all capped at about $138k. Not bad for sitting on an airplane looking for non-existent al Qaeda members.

You are correct, the pay is good. my question is can you tell an Al Qaeda member by looking at him or her. For that matter can you tell a KKK member by looking at them, or for that matter any other extreme org. member? Or for that matter an individual with some form of mental problem, or frustration, or axe to grind that decides to "follow the lead" or do his own reenactment?

Of course these assertations will be viewed by many as foolish, but havent these types of things (various forms of violence against the innocent) happened many times, in many different settings in our world, let alone nation? When it comes to criminal acts, or violence against the innocent, in the context of history, it repeats itself "daily". Better to be on guard now, than to play the "I told you so", "who would have thought", "I had no idea they could do it again", "shocking loss of life" game all over again.

What I want to know is do you get frequent flyer miles?

No, IMO, it is not better to "be on guard now" by wasting countless dollars (and lives, like yours) sitting around airplanes looking for terrorists that aren't there. Better to replace the flight deck doors with secure ones (already done), give the pilots what they should have had on September 11, 2001 (which might have help prevent some of the tragedy) - namely, GUNS, and to alter the protocol when lunatics attempt to take over an aircraft (which has been done). All in all, a more sensible (and cost-effective) solution.

Thousands of sky marshals could then be put to better use actually defending the country from realistic threats (instead of "policing airplanes.") Instead, they sit on their ... all day long enforcing the "no-pee rule for 30 minutes out of DCA" and occupy at least two seats (often of the premium variety) on hundreds of flights daily.

But the last war will be fought, over and over again, until the terrorists attack us through some underprotected flank - perhaps made more vulnerable because of the waste of energy "guarding the skies" in the form of Sky Marshals.