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U.S. Airline Pilots Might Start Carrying Guns

U.S. airline pilots might start carrying guns in cockpits as a defense against terrorists as early as May under a government task force proposal. The first 48 pilots may begin training with .40-caliber semiautomatic pistols within a month, according to a Transportation Security Administration spokesman. The plan still requires the agency leader’s approval.

The pilots must pass background checks and psychological evaluations before being approved for the program. The unions would recommend the first candidates to be trained and after volunteer pilots complete 48 hours of training and are deputized, they will be able to carry guns with them aboard planes. The guns will be in locked cases, which can only bed inside secured cockpits. The agency will spend about $500,000 to train the first group and is seeking $20 million in the fiscal year that begins October 1 to expand the program.