http://www.tsa.gov/approach/mythbust..._shortage.shtm
Another Myth Buster...The pic shows FAM's taking target practice sitting COACH seats, when we know they sit in the big leather ones.

Not only are they in coach, but how convenient that no other seats, carts, non-terrorist pax, or cockpit walls are in their line of fire.

I had this discussion back in December when I said only about 5% of the flights had FAM's on them and was told that the number was too low. Out of that I was pretty sure that the number was no more than single digits.

Now when I look back I see that one of my sources for the number used the word "covered" for citing that more than 5% of flights were covered. Though the percentage differences are rather meaningless, I see validity on CNN's numbers since the use of the word "covered" includes more than FAM's.

Don't forget LEOs on vacation!

The story must be ruffling a few feathers 'cause it's now the lead article on the blog.

Who may well be sleeping ....

Interesting
 

Two observations:

1. About three months ago I posted an inquiry here about whether the number of FAM's was decreasing because I had made several transcon flights on which none were present. Now, I am not saying that we need more. But I found a curious silence from most of you.

2. I think this further confirms my belief that FAM's are *supposed* to be visible to a intentional observer (a terrorist scout and or anyone else who really cares), but not to the casual traveler. After all, if they wore uniforms, then you would have some casual travelers complaining "How come there isn't a FAM on this flight??

When they practice in the simmulator and the FAM-specific shooting test they shoot with seats in front of them.

Not always.

Much more likely than not will the FAM be seated in FC. Exceptions: Airlines with all coach seating like WN, regional jets and sometimes when a fellow FAM is already in FC.

And other times too, as have been mentioned on the board.

That's right - when flying off-duty or when the gov't is actually paying for the ticket. :D

Still doesn't affect the fact that at most only 1 in 20 aircraft have someone who even capable of firing a gun, let alone being able to take action that will prevent the successful hijacking

If I was al-Qaeda I'd be pretty confident of being able to put a hole through any building in the US at a time of my choosing

Not exactly a glowing recommendation for having FAMs on flights

And yet this doesn't concern me in the slightest.

I'm not losing any sleep about asteroids striking me. I'm equally unconcerned about the remote probability of a successful hijacking of a plane I'm on, whether there are air marshals present or not.

Yep. :)

And others do, while on the clock. :)