Program deputizes flight crews and allows them to carry a gun onboard,
According to an indictment issued in Salt Lake City, a first officer on a Delta flight last August threatened to shoot the captain if they diverted the flight due to an onboard medical emergency.
The Federal Flight Deck Officer (FFDO) program is a U.S. federal program that was created in the aftermath of the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks as a part of the Aviation and Transportation Security Act. The primary purpose of the program is to enhance the security of commercial aviation by allowing eligible airline pilots to carry firearms and act as federal law enforcement officers in the event of a threat or attack on their aircraft.
Even in Vermont, passengers generally do not have the right to know if a pilot is carrying a weapon.
The FFDO program was established to address concerns about the vulnerability of commercial airliners to terrorist hijackings and attacks. It aimed to provide an additional layer of security on board by training and authorizing volunteer pilots to carry concealed firearms and use them to defend the cockpit and passengers in the event of an attempted hijacking or other security threat.
However, opinions about the effectiveness and continued relevance of the FFDO program vary.
You can listen to further discussion at AVTalk.