No impropriety here but certainly a funny story.

So Thursday I'm doing a MR to requalify for EXP.....slow year!

At the advice of andrzej I flew SAN-LAX-LAS-LAX-SAN......taking me past the necessary 1800 miles I needed to re-qualify!

Interesting the LAX-LAS-LAX was on the same plane with around a 45 minute layover.........when I got back on the plane the guy in front of me had been on the previous flight................after a little conversation come to find out he is doing exactly the same thing in order to re-qualify for PLT.

Here's where is gets good.............We arrive back at LAX about 20 minutes early and we both make a dash for the bus to the satellite terminal to catch an earlier flight. On the bus believe it or not is the FO (First Officer) from our flight. I commented on quickly he made it to the bus and how I was on both flights with him. He too was trying to get an earlier flight to SAN and we talked a bit about what a MR was and why we were doing it.

He asked if we were both in FC on both flights.....when we said yes he started to laugh. He said you know the only guys we see do that are Air Marshalls........and we were all in the cockpit on the way back to LAX perplexed as to why in the world an air Marshall be "pounding down scotch's" on duty! They were all worried and wondering what to do about it!

So when he realized it was actually the 2 of us.....not seated together and not talking other than a brief exchange when we got on the plane.....who were consuming alcohol......he laughed!!!

Oh well..........at least I thought it was funny!

Cheers

That is a great story! I wonder if it happens for real??

LOL OMG I can only imagine the turmoil if there had actually been two FAMs on that flight. If the crew had reported you two by mistake, the real FAMs may have had some 'splainin' to do.

Edited to add: Are you frequently mistaken for a air marshal? Seems like there could be pros and cons to that.

Could be but as soon as the FA understand that I know they only get 2 Glen Levitt's on domestic flights....I'm guessing they figure out that I'm not......apparently not putting 2+2 together the other day!

No, obviously not. He must have felt a bit sheepish.

It's a great story at any rate, thanks for sharing.

I thought the whole reason FAMs board before any pax is so that they can introduce themselves to the FAs and pilots? I'm surprised the pilots would be unclear as to the presence/identity of FAMs.

Anyway, one can only wish the real FAMs would drink while on duty--anything that would set their aim a little off could help avoid...um, let's just refer to it as "what happened in Miami."

what, doing what they are trained to do? Wonder what you would have done in the exact same scenario....faced with a split second decision to figure out whether a possible threat is imminent or just a hoax from some crazy guy who is mentally challenged...or a test to see what FAMs would do in a situation....


either way, crews always know who/where FAMs are. Whether PAX think they know or not, crews always know.

A funny story but the title actually made me think you witnessed some FAM's slamming some liquor on one of your flights!

The two of you should have shown the FO your guns. That would have made him think.

The FAMs meet the Captain but not always the F.O. who might be doing checks at the time.

what if it's the Captian who is doing the walk-arounds and the F.O. is doing the pre-flight? Or if the Captain is late and the F.O. did everything to get things ready.....

of course there are exceptions...but don't assume that you believe you know...

great story ^

^^ Classic advice.

You mean FAM's acting properly, and potentially saving hundreds of lives? Why would you want to avoid that?

Well, faced with another MIA, I would be interested to see what that booze would do to their aim.