Rand Paul Aims to Arm Every Airline Pilot, Introduces Amendment to FAA

Sen. Rand Paul (R-KY) is reviving a bill, that died out last year with no co-sponsors, to allow all U.S. airline pilots to carry firearms on board.    

The Arm All Pilots Act of 2016 would allow trained pilots to carry a concealed firearm while on duty "on the officer's body, loaded and holstered"  throughout the flight, in the cockpit and while traveling to/from their place of residence.  

Under the Federal Flight Deck Officer (FFDO) program, thousands of pilots  currently carry concealed weapons aboard flights after receiving training special training courses from federal Air Marshals.  This bill would reduce the restrictions on those eligible for the program, increase training opportunities and encourage completion of the program.  

“The [FFDO] program is an important element in our continued efforts to ensure the safety of airline passengers, and my amendment will make it possible for more pilots to get trained and protect flyers. Pilots regularly tell me they’ve experienced problems with the availability of training under the current program; my amendment addresses those concerns and ensures that participants in the program have the critical training they need," Paul said in a news release.  

Paul also introduced a second amendment this month alongside Sen. Ed Markey (D-MA). This amendment call to prohibit law enforcement from using drones to collect evidence for any violation of law without a warrant.  

“Just as we have rules of the road for manned vehicles, we now need rules of the sky for unmanned ones,” Markey said in a news release. “Requiring that law enforcement obtain a warrant before using a drone ensures we reap the economic and educational benefits of drones while ensuring the privacy of Americans is protected. I thank Senator Paul for his partnership on this amendment, and I look forward to fighting to ensure that Americans are guaranteed strong personal privacy protections as these new vehicles take flight.”