Buzz
Ron Wagner:
During my time as an airline pilot, every armed individual boarding our plane was introduced to the cockpit crew, at least to the captain. The gate agent escorted the armed person down the jetway before general boarding began. We would check their identification and confirm their seat assignment.
At a minimum, the lead flight attendant was also informed, so if they happened to notice the weapon, they wouldn't be alarmed.
$98 MILLION AGAINST A .38 CALIBER REVOLVER
I primarily flew the Eastern Shuttle between Washington and New York, where we often carried high-profile individuals under the protection of the Secret Service or State Department—making armed security a frequent sight.
Armed guards were also commonplace because we were responsible for transporting billions of dollars in cash. Given that fresh bills were printed in Washington, D.C., and New York was the nation's financial hub, large sums of money were regularly transported there. With flights leaving every hour, on the hour, they knew we could get it to the city while the ink was still drying. Today, with most financial transactions occurring electronically, there's likely much less cash being moved between the two cities.
Along with being introduced to the armed personnel, we were informed of the cash load in the hold. It was always at least $50 million, with $70 million being the most typical amount—packed into 50 bags containing $1.4 million each. The largest cash transport I handled was $98 million, distributed across 70 bags. (This was back in the 1980s when $98 million was a significant sum, though today it would be considered pocket change, right?)
In conclusion: it is illegal for any armed individual to board a U.S. commercial flight without the captain's awareness. (In 2014, USA Today reported that not all air marshals are fond of this policy; they understand the need to alert the captain to their presence but are concerned it could lead to preferential treatment from the cabin crew, inadvertently revealing their position.)
This article was originally published on Quora. Click here to read it.
