Despite the strong objections from pilots unions, the use of armed sky marshals on selected flights is being considered as a possible answer to dealing with terrorists - armed or otherwise - who are prepared to kill passengers and crew to gain control of an aircraft.
However, given the sky marshals' inclusion on a flight, pilots want to know what the rules of engagement should be once a hijacker has pulled a gun or other weapon.
The British Air Line Pilots Association (BALPA) made its position on sky marshal protocols clear to UK transport minister Alistair Darling on 29 December. Its demands are likely to become a blueprint for the general non-US approach to the rules of engagement.
The union wants flightdeck crew members on every flight to be notified "at the earliest opportunity" that sky marshals are to be carried. "The normal chain of command shall be preserved. The captain's authority shall be absolute and shall not be diminished in any way as a result of the carriage of sky marshals," it says. Flightcrew will be briefed as to the fact that marshals are on board "and will not be compelled to operate on any flight where a sky marshal is to be carried".
BALPA wants all marshals to be members of the UK Metropolitan Police force, "or an organisation of similar standing", and requires that they shall be equipped "only with weapons and firearms suitable for use in commercial, pressurised aircraft". This points to the use of low-velocity guns or other non-damaging weapons, although Boeing makes it clear that the danger of loss of an airframe from gunfire is "very slight" given that aircraft are designed to withstand far more damage than penetration from the odd bullet.
Pilots want to know details such as where marshals are sitting, how many there are and what their priorities are. Their questions include: What action will be taken if cabin crew are threatened? When is it safe for a pilot to leave the flightdeck or cabin crew to access it? Is there a point of no return beyond which the pilot should risk aircraft and passengers by throwing it into a violent manoeuvre - probably a dive - to unbalance and frighten the hijackers?
The International Federation of Air Line Pilots Associations dismisses out of hand the idea of pilots taking such action, even under the scenario in which sky marshals, sitting in pre-designated seats, are able to warn the flightdeck of a hijack attempt by using a "panic button". "Aircraft are not designed for this," says Dolan. "The pilot's job is, if there is a life-threatening situation, to get the aircraft on to the ground."
Under Israeli flag carrier El Al's policy, marshals are trained to shoot and have done so on several occasions. While this approach might work for a relatively small airline such as El Al, there are questions as to whether the idea of installing highly trained gunmen at a moment's notice aboard the thousands of airliners which take to the air every day is credible.
Source: Flight International
