Mesa Air Group has become the first US airline to firm up plans to arm its pilots with stun guns, despite the fact that the US Federal Aviation Administration is yet to approve the move.
The US regional, which operates services in its own right and feeder flights as America West Express and US Airways Express, is to train its pilots to use non-lethal Taser M26 stun guns as part of efforts to improve on-board security. A Taser can immobilise a person for up to 15min by firing a high-voltage shock at a range of up to 6.4m (21ft), but causes no permanent long-term injury.
The FAA says that Taser type stun guns are currently illegal on aircraft, and that Mesa cannot arm its pilots. Mesa believes the FAA will approve them "within two months". The airline has just introduced trained security staff on flights from its Albuquerque hub.
"We need to do everything we can to regain passenger confidence," says Mesa chairman Jonathan Ornstein. "Enhancing on-board security will go a long way towards that goal."
While the Mesa move has been prompted by a request by the US Air Line Pilots Association union, other pilot unions are less enthusiastic about the idea of arming pilots.
British Airways has acknowledged that such a move is being discussed by the industry, but the British Airline Pilots Association says: "We remain convinced that improving security on the ground should be the prime focus." The union, which represents the bulk of the pilot community in the UK, says it is still debating the issue of arming pilots.
Source: Flight International
