In theory the idea has some merit but I can’t say I’m enthralled with the idea as you are effectively encarcerating the flightcrew. When you add the fact that they also want to bring in aircraft capable of flying for 18+ hours then the future is not rosy. Alternatively mandate my dual door vault type system along with the existing video cameras and we don’t really have a problem any more. It would allow us to still come out and stretch our legs/have a pee/eye up the totty without the weakness of cockpit invasion during re-entry. Problem would be finding the space on small aircraft.

Couldnt you factor routel length into that? With larger aircraft usually longer enroute time so your option works as space allows. With 737 it may get uncomfortable for 4 hour trip of not being able to “go” but from your POV (a pilots) what would you honestly rather do – sit tight or risk it and go out? Going before you go might help and then once an aircraft is on the ground and pilot could go to the toilet during turnaround?

Or what about creating a double door system so that the pax also have to use double door to get to toilet. i.e the toilet door is in between the 2 doors. therefore would be enough room for the “Decontainment zone” all be it a bit cramped. also with smaller size no room for 2 terrorists at a time….

Gibraltar, low viz, no glideslope or localizer, GULP, just did it an an Airbus!

Been there done that and was even on the phone during the perfect landing in 100m vis (real world weather too 😮 😮 )

How about Maderia LPMA not thats tricky especially on your first time and not reading the charts (what are the for….?)

Where to start…

I think the worst part of the aircraft to have a gun is really the cockpit IMHO as ok if it hits the fuse in the cabin more walls than windows but in the cockpit there is a hell of alot of glass in there compared to a cabin. One stray shot (very very unlikely since your firing away from the glass but they could push gun towards glass just before you fire) through the front window and how the hell is anyone supposed to land that plane with wind at 500mph coming through the now broken window? Two layers of glass yes but it needs to be very very thick bullet proof (aka Tripple Glazing) or it not to it and even then tests on tripple glazing have shown automatic weapons can penetrate it. Small firearm probably wont but are cockpit windows that thick?

In terms of police vs pilot recruitment testing the police once would be alot more about physical and law etc than a large chunk devoted to how your mind is ticking.

If your having a stand off (even for seconds) with a potential hijacker who is armed with say a metal knife and you have a loaded gun there would need to be probably 3 or more for them not to back down. Also by human nature people can be “trigger happy” when firing a weapon under pressure so will shoot usually 3 to 5 times when they only planned to shoot once. It requires an amount of disipline to only shoot once if under pressure. Shotting 3 to 5 times also means that more room for a stray bullet.

Didnt they say bullets were being developed that would penetrate flesh but not the fuselage of an aircraft?

Using a button to unlock a gun both pilots need to press – why could terrorists find the buttons and press??

There are highly advanced stages of development of guns that recognise finger prints of users and only operate if all are correct. If each captain or pilot was issued with one of these the terrorist could not fire it only the pilot could. Therefore keeping the plane safer even if the pilot is killed…. Maybe this coupled with more secure flight deck windows etc could be best way forward?

A320 of air malta is my favourite! Worthy of a.net i think! Outstanding shots overall. Whats you camera?

And that one used to fly with Easyjet 🙂

G-EZYC – N105KH

Wasnt G-EZYC the one with the “dodgy” engine that no amount of replacements could fix? Im quite sure its the one that kept emergency landing at Belfast when it was in due to N1 reading showing something wrong etc. Became a standard practise every time this 1 aircraft was in.

Air Berlin 737 with winglets is a beautiful looking machine!

Therefore, from Monday 25 April, please consult our web site every morning (GMT+2) for more information.

Thats the exact wording bemused….