Federal Flight Deck Officers

[Maverick24]

Nah, Dont sweat it av8or. We still are in a good place, captric was just your typical troll trying to stir up the pot. I think valors comment was specifically directed at captric himself and his childish post, not an opinion of all FFDO's.

As I have stated before, I believe most FFDO's are great guys and 100% professional, and I for one have no problem with an extra layer of security in the cockpit. It is obvious that part of my original post went right over captric's head.

Frankly, I enjoyed this debate and exchanging points of view with you. Getting another perspective from you guys is certainly not a bad thing. It probably should happen a bit more often as discussions such as this can improve understanding between FAMS/FFDOs/and other LEO's.

[Don Nadie]

Dammit, I thought we'd done a pretty good job, getting to a "happy place" on this issue. Not that I can prevent the devolution into where it was before, but,

First, MAV, thanks for your last response ofter mine. I think reconsidering an issue is a sign of wisdom and leadership.

Second, captric, man that really didn't help. We can ALL recount tales of poor judgement, human error, embarrasing behavior, etc. in our chosen field. But that in no way implicates the whole profession. There are sooo many more cops in the field than FFDO's, the sheer numbers alone would predict the occasional errant behavior or failure of duty. And personally, I'm not gonna be surprised when an FFDO, fails in his/her character or duties. I'd sure hate to think that when/if it happens I get lumped in with that guy.

Third, Valor, I'm not into saving the world. I am into saving my arse. I do that every time I complete a safe flight. If one day it unfortunately happens due to stopping a threat, and others benefit, excellent, but you can know that in a fight, it's not going to be about the rest of the crew or the airplane. I'm just not that noble.

Av8or,

I think that most FAMs don't lump all the FFDOs in the same basket just as I hope they don't lump me in with Mr. Supersecret weapon smuggler guy from Miami.
Whatever your motivation... it is still more pure than the Tangos.
I sat next to a B6 pilot who was deadheading today who was an FFDO. We talked and I found that we had more in common than we had differences....I try to keep things like that in mind when jagoffs like Cappy "Super Pilot and Jack Bauer wannabe" shoot their pie holes off.

Fly safe and shoot straight,
Don

[Valor55]

Third, Valor, I'm not into saving the world. I am into saving my arse. I do that every time I complete a safe flight. If one day it unfortunately happens due to stopping a threat, and others benefit, excellent, but you can know that in a fight, it's not going to be about the rest of the crew or the airplane. I'm just not that noble.

My issue is not with FFDOs. I've supported that issue since it first came up. I think anyone trying to get into a cockpit is committing suicide either with the entire plane of passengers and victims at the target or at the hands of the FFDO. I think we would all rather it be at the hands of the FFDO. That being said my issue was with captric who apparently believes his authority extends beyond executing a terrorist trying to take his plane and into the law enforcement realm. His obvious dislike of law enforcement and his own swollen ego are what I had trouble with.

I won't lump you into captric's delusions if you don't lump me in with bad cops. ;)

[av8or]

Fair enough Valor. Glad to hear we're all still good. Any of yall, that's right, I said yall, out of ATL field office. Got requal comming up over there. Look forward to seeing the operation in the future.

Glad to even be mildly associated with such professionals.

[CincyCop]

Slightly off topic question. Are FFDO's eligible to have verified LEO status at RP? Curious.

[Lawson]

Slightly off topic question. Are FFDO's eligible to have verified LEO status at RP? Curious.

From what I've seen here, I would imagine not.

[joewildblue]

Gentlemen.
I just retired after 40 years of flying. Yes I had the honor and privilege of volunteering to serve in the FFDO capacity.
My own take.
I do not want, nor wanted to have power of arrest. I am an aviator first. I was trained in use of deadly force, (This time in a more refined manner, face to face), not to arrest anyone.
I think that being a pilot, a cop, or a fireman is in all probability a dream that every kid has had at some point. I respect all of those jobs. However the call of the sky was the strongest. It simply posed the strongest challenge to me. As a matter of personal choice for me.
I respect cops, but I did not want to do that job, that is precisely why I respect them. The hardest thing in my life was having to be polite to someone who did not deserve it.
I find it surprising that the idea of a badge offends so many. That was determined to be a necessity after the Miami shooting, by the way.
Yes, I was sworn to fight against all enemies, foreign and domestic.
My jurisdiction was the smallest, and it should be.
The idea of using a badge to get out of a citation is of course nothing new, I mean no disrespect, but I was not born yesterday, this is common practice and procedure in most areas of the US, right or wrong, it is factual, common knowledge, it simply is!.
I have a CCW permit from my state, which is not a "Shall issue". So yes, I carry, or have the authority do do so legally.
The problem as it stands is that the FFDOs prescribed mode of carry for our duty weapon even when in our vehicle, is not practical, without getting into OPSEC areas, it is simply politically motivated. It will simple not survive the test of time. All generated by turf and political angles, not by practical measures
I see that the misinformation disseminated about this program has been effective after reading all of these negative comments on your board. They are way too many, I will not address most of them due to time/space.
FFDOs want to go home to their wives and kids at the end of our flying day, just like you do after your shift..
It is truly sad, in the end we are all fighting for the SAME side.
Gentlemen, with all due respect. Good Bye.

[Creeker]

...The problem as it stands is that the FFDOs prescribed mode of carry for our duty weapon even when in our vehicle, is not practical, without getting into OPSEC areas, it is simply politically motivated. It will simple not survive the test of time. All generated by turf and political angles, not by practical measures
I see that the misinformation disseminated about this program has been effective after reading all of these negative comments on your board. They are way too many, I will not address most of them due to time/space.
FFDOs want to go home to their wives and kids at the end of our flying day, just like you do after your shift..
It is truly sad, in the end we are all fighting for the SAME side.
....

I don't have any problem with an attitude such as yours. This thread is cold and I don't have the time nor the inclination to go back through all of it, but I can't imagine many other LEO's having any either... And I totally agree with the problems as you outlined, but I foresaw them as being politically motivated difficulties when the whole program was announced, so the Left has successfully screwed the intent of the program... not totally, but enough to create difficulties for all sides.

It still amazes me the number of people who think a firearm will discharge all by itself... all perpetuated by those wild west tv shows and the illogical sense that machines have their own temperment, since we started putting the Esso "Tiger in our tank"... :rolleyes:

[Group9]

Talk about the thread that won't die. :D

[Valor55]

Die thread, die!