Taser Ua Plans Stun Guns 2001
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Chil8go, IL Sun- Times Chlolgll Mil Aril Frld., 0 455,425 NOV 16, 2001 uns If H.S. approves, Tasers will be in cockpit lockboxes By DAVE CARPENTER In the latest move to improve safety in the skies, United Airlines on Thursday became the first major carrier to announce plans to in- stall stun guns in the cockpits of all its planes. United also said it is starting a special training program for flight attendants, aimed at both self-protection and assisting passengers. Both measures are flubject to federal government approval. Pending that, the nation's second-biggest carrier said it will soon start installing advanced Taser stun guns in electronically coded lockboxes in all planes, enabling pilots to fend off hijacking attempts~ The weapons fire an electronic charge that disables an .attacker for five fleconds or more, allowing time for them to he restrained. Pilots will be trained in how to use the devices. "United and its pilots believe Tasers are an important addition to enhanced cockpit security. Tasers will incapacitate an attacker without endangering the airplane," said Andrew Studdert, chief operating officer and executive vice president of the Elk Grove Township carrier. United declined to discuss Elpecifics of the new training pro~ gram for flight attendants, indicating that could compromise its effectiveness. Since the Sept. 11 terrorist at- , tacks, airlines have been taking security matters into their' own hands. Most have been reinforcing cockpit doors with iron bars. TANI'EN MAURY 18l00Ma.EflG NF.WS Andy Plews, United's director of media relations, holds a stun device made by Ja~er Intarnatkmal. The weapons fire a charge that disables an attacker- for fiye seconds or more, aHowlng time for them to be restrained. Among other measures, Austrian Airlines put armed sky marshals on board all its flights to and from North America, and carriers have , even considered arming pilots with prohibiting any deadly or dangerhandguns. ous weapon on scheduled passenThe Federal Aviation Adminis- ger flights. Congres!'\, which has tration has been reviewing its rule . Turn to Page 68 "--., nr~ited Con"lnued from Page 65 been working to tighten airline se· curity since the attacks, also could override it. Other airlines besides United also have been considering stun guns. Mesa Air Group, which operates America West Express and US Airways Express, announced last month it planned to train its pilots to use them, and the manufacturer of Tasers, Scottsdale, Ariz.-based Taser International Inc., has held discussions with several carriers. Using a laser sight, the Taser shoots a pair of quarter·inch darts trailing wires into the attacker. A five-second, 26-watt shot of elec~ tricity contracts the muscles and overwhelms the central nervous system, preventing any coordinated action. The weapons can take down a hijacker from 21 feet away, according to the manufacturer. United pilot Herb Hunter, a spokesman for the Air Line Pilots Association, endorsed the stun gun plan as "a good first step." "We have supported a threepronged approach: Keep the bad guys off the jets (through tightened security), strengthen and eventually replace the cockpit doors, and put defensive systems for pilots in the cockpit," Hunter said. "Is this a panacea? No. But it's certainly a move in the right direction, and we support it." AP