Captain's log
 

While clearing security at the US shuttle earlier this week at LGA, I noticed a captain bypass security screening and instead present some sort of identification to a TSA agent and sign some sort of log book. I witnessed something similar at the AA terminal at BOS earlier this year, but in that case the captain was escorted by a state trooper. It is safe to assume that these guys are "packing heat," or does someone have a better explanation?

You got it, first guess. :)

JR

I've had Pilots signing my flight log as a personal certification of me being in the flight! :D

And it's done like this so that, if you want to get access to a firearm airside, it's easier to spot who you need to mug.

Wouldn't it be easier to just look for a uniformed airport police officer? At least the cop's gun wouldn't be locked in a steel lock box.

His firearm is intended for rapid access. The pilot's isn't. So it seems to me to be safer to mug the unescorted pilot with the lock box. ;)

Then how are you going to get to the gun?

Do all pilots carry firearms onboard? Or is it just certain, paranoid ones?

I always thought it was cool to see the El Al flights being loaded in Toronto with the insane security they had guarding them.

At both LAX and YYZ, I've spotted El Al's own personal security patrolling the check-in counters. Passengers are required to show them their tickets as well as the IDs before being allowed to proceed foward to the desks.

No, only those who are Federal Flight Deck Officers or FFDOs.