USAir Pilot To Be Fired For Handgun Going Off

[Firebird2XC]

'Modifications that can't be discussed here?'

That's kinda spooky sounding.

Personally, I look at it this way.

In the Army, we called this an 'accidental discharge'. It's a legal term for "oops, that was really stupid of me".

In the days of revolvers or weapons that had to be decocked, (the hammer manually released back into the forward position) an accidental discharge type scenario I could more or less see happening. 'My finger slipped' might even be a real reason. Not a good one (is there ever one with a a firearm?) but one nonetheless.

The Army uses a device called a 'clearing barrel' for that stuff. Bury an empty 55 gal drum part way into the ground at a 45 degree angle. Drop the magazine, pull the slide to eject the round from the chamber, look in the chamber, then let the slide forward. Point the weapon into the open end of the barrel and fire it. No round= no discharge.

A few years ago in Iraq, a guy in my unit pulled a smooth one- he did all of the above, but he forgot to drop the magazine. He saw a round come out of the chamber, but then just racked a new one right back in after it.

He 'killed the clearing barrel'. He had some egg on his face for that one. He nearly lost his stripes. He definitely had some problems after that.

Herein is the problem. There are no issues like the revolver scenario with a modern semi automatic handgun, for the most part. While all makes and models may not apply, you've got to be a SCREAMING RETARD to 'accidentally' fire your weapon.

Either you A) Do not actually know how to handle your weapon properly.
B) Do know how to handle it, but were playing with it.
C) Did not maintain it properly, and suffered a severe
malfunction.


I've fired an H&K .40 cal. I can't speak for the 'super-secret-squirrel' variant that FFDOs apparently carry, but I think the USAir guy got what he had coming to him.

He's like the "which came first- the chicken, or the egg"

Who got fired first? "The weapon, or the pilot?"

At this point, it's irrelevant. They're so closely related that debating the issue is largely academic. I don't want somebody that incompetent at handling a weapon in a cockpit with me, and I'm glad there's one less chance of it.

[bdhill1979]

Originally Posted by PCL_128

Most ALPA contracts prohibit the use of CVR and FDR data for disciplinary purposes. In the case of USAirways, LOA 37 from the contract specifically prohibits it.



Are you an FFDO? If not, then you don't have the exact same gun. This isn't the same .40 H & K that is stocked at your local gun shop. There are modifications that can't be discussed here.

How did I get quoted on that one?

[PCL_128]

Originally Posted by bdhill1979

How did I get quoted on that one?

That's a good question. I don't know how that happened. It's been fixed.

[dashdriver]

Just my .02 cents worth, I think firing the poor guy might be to harsh. Who knows what the heck was going on up there, except himself, the other pilot and the CVR.

[crashmbern]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pzzzcw27iGw

not sure if this was posted yet. It still amazes me what the media puts out there as far as giving away scecurity info.

[Doug Taylor]

Originally Posted by dashdriver

Just my .02 cents worth, I think firing the poor guy might be to harsh. Who knows what the heck was going on up there, except himself, the other pilot and the CVR.

Precisely.

A gun is an inanimate object.

I'll bet you way more guys have impaled themselves with their "Leathermen" than shot a hole thru the cockpit.

Besides, the yoke is far more dangerous than a firearm, are those on the banned list next?