Gavin Howe
Law enforcement officers are typically allowed to fly while armed, but they must meet several requirements. Federal agents and officers, for instance, must take a flying armed course, maintain annual refresher training, and possess a current UFAN number. They must also be employed as federal law enforcement officers, be sworn to enforce criminal or immigration statutes, and be authorized by their employing agency to have the weapon in connection with their assigned duties. State and local law enforcement officers may be subject to additional restrictions, such as only being permitted to fly armed when on official business. In all cases, planning ahead is essential to ensure a smooth travel experience when carrying a firearm.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Law enforcement officers carrying firearms on planes | Permitted, but must meet federal qualifications |
| Federal qualifications | Must be a federal, municipal, county, state, tribal, or territorial law enforcement officer |
| Must be a direct government agency employee | |
| Must be sworn and commissioned to enforce criminal or immigration statutes | |
| Must be authorized by the employing agency to have the weapon in connection with assigned duties | |
| Must complete the TSA Law Enforcement Officer Flying Armed Training Course | |
| Must present an operational need to have the weapon accessible | |
| Must submit a National Law Enforcement Telecommunications System message at least 24 hours prior to travel | |
| Must check in with an airline agent at the airport before boarding | |
| Must present an original letter of authority from the employing agency | |
| Must declare the weapon with the airline at check-in | |
| Must place the weapon in checked luggage if traveling as a retired officer |
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What You'll Learn
- Law enforcement officers must meet federal qualifications to fly armed
- Federal Air Marshals are present and armed on some flights
- Law enforcement officers must complete a training program to fly armed
- Law enforcement officers must be authorised to carry a weapon by their employing agency
- Law enforcement officers must declare their weapon at check-in
Law enforcement officers must meet federal qualifications to fly armed
Additionally, officers must complete the TSA Law Enforcement Officer Flying Armed Training Course. Municipal, county, state, tribal, or territorial officers must also present an operational need to have the weapon accessible from the time they would otherwise check it until they claim it after deplaning. The employing agency must determine the need to have the weapon accessible aboard the aircraft, based on assigned protective duties or travel requirements.
To ensure compliance with federal regulations, law enforcement agencies must select a single instructor or point of contact to request training material. This individual must be a full-time law enforcement officer who meets the instructor qualification standards of their agency. They must submit a request through the provided online form, using a government email address.
State, local, territorial, tribal, and approved railroad law enforcement officers flying armed must submit a National Law Enforcement Telecommunications System message at least 24 hours before travel. The training material for law enforcement officers to fly armed can be obtained from the Federal Air Marshal Service by emailing the Office of Law Enforcement/Federal Air Marshal Service (OLE/FAMS). Failure to complete the required training will prevent officers from flying armed.
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Federal Air Marshals are present and armed on some flights
Federal Air Marshals (FAMs) are covert law enforcement officers who are present and armed on some flights. They blend in with other passengers on board aircraft and rely on their training in investigative techniques, criminal terrorist behaviour recognition, firearms proficiency, aircraft-specific tactics, and close-quarters self-defence measures to protect the flying public.
The Federal Air Marshal Service was established on March 2, 1962, as the Federal Aviation Administration's (FAA) FAA Peace Officers Program. On this date, the first 18 volunteers from the FAA's Flight Standards Division graduated from their training. The program was started in response to a stark rise in airplane hijackings, with the belief that the presence of armed security forces could help deter potential wrongdoing.
Air marshals may be deployed on as little as an hour's notice, particularly to high-risk locations or flights. They are authorised to carry a gun and make arrests if necessary. They also perform non-flight law enforcement work, such as providing a security presence at airports and national events like presidential inaugurations.
The number of air marshals has increased significantly since the 9/11 terrorist attacks, when there were only 33 air marshals operating on US flights. Today, there are an estimated 3,000 air marshals, and they cover thousands of flights annually. Air marshals also sometimes travel in pairs, or even groups of four on higher-risk international flights, for added security.
The COVID-19 pandemic brought new challenges, with a decline in US carrier flights and a need to adjust the number and types of flights air marshals covered. During this time, the Service also increased air marshals' non-flight work, such as providing security at airports and national events.
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Law enforcement officers must complete a training program to fly armed
The training program ensures that officers are properly instructed in the use of their weapons and are aware of the regulations and requirements for flying armed. The program covers essential knowledge and skills needed to handle firearms safely and securely while in an aircraft environment. It also educates officers on the specific circumstances under which carrying a weapon onboard is permitted.
To be eligible for the training, officers must meet several prerequisites. Firstly, they must be employed as federal law enforcement officers or full-time government agency employees at the municipal, county, state, tribal, or territorial level. They must also be sworn and commissioned to enforce criminal or immigration statutes. Moreover, the employing agency must authorize the officer to carry a weapon in connection with their assigned duties.
Once an officer has completed the training course, they are required to submit a National Law Enforcement Telecommunications System message at least 24 hours before traveling while carrying a weapon. This step is crucial for compliance with federal regulations. Additionally, the employing agency must determine the operational need for the weapon to be accessible throughout the entire journey, including during flight. This need is typically based on specific duties or assignments, such as protective functions, hazardous surveillance operations, or immediate reporting requirements upon landing.
The training course is comprehensive and covers a range of topics to ensure the safe and responsible handling of firearms by law enforcement officers while flying. By completing this program, officers gain the necessary qualifications to confidently carry out their duties at high altitudes without compromising the safety of themselves and those around them.
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Law enforcement officers must be authorised to carry a weapon by their employing agency
Law enforcement officers are permitted to carry firearms on planes in certain circumstances. To be authorised to carry a firearm, officers must meet several requirements. Firstly, they must be a federal law enforcement officer or a full-time municipal, county, state, tribal or territorial law enforcement officer who is a direct employee of a government agency. They must also be sworn and commissioned to enforce criminal or immigration statutes.
One of the most important requirements is that the officer must be authorised by their employing agency to carry a weapon in connection with their assigned duties. This means that the agency must determine that there is an operational need for the officer to have the weapon accessible throughout the duration of the flight. This could include situations such as prisoner transport, dignitary protection, or other official police business. The employing agency is also responsible for selecting a single instructor or point-of-contact to request training materials and instruct the officers within their agency who meet the federal regulations to fly armed.
To be authorised to carry a firearm on a plane, law enforcement officers must also complete the required training. This includes the TSA Law Enforcement Officer Flying Armed Training Course or the training program "Law Enforcement Officers Flying Armed", which is overseen by the Office of Law Enforcement/Federal Air Marshal Service. The training material can be obtained by emailing the Office of Law Enforcement/Federal Air Marshal Service or requesting it through the TSA website.
It is important to note that there are certain exclusions to who can be authorised to carry a firearm on a plane. For example, retired officers are not permitted to fly armed, but they can transport their unloaded weapon in a locked gun case inside their checked luggage. Additionally, law enforcement officers who have not been granted general arrest authority, those employed by a department or agency that is not fully taxpayer-funded, and those attending non-operational or enforcement-related activities are also excluded from carrying firearms on planes.
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Law enforcement officers must declare their weapon at check-in
Law enforcement officers are permitted to carry a firearm on a plane under certain conditions. To do so, they must meet all federal qualifications, be a federal law enforcement officer or a full-time government employee, be sworn in to enforce criminal or immigration statutes, and be authorised by their employing agency to carry the weapon in connection with their assigned duties. Additionally, they must have completed the TSA Law Enforcement Officer Flying Armed Training Course. Municipal, county, state, tribal, or territorial officers must also present an operational need to have the weapon accessible at all times during travel. This need must be determined by the employing agency.
Retired law enforcement officers are excluded from flying armed, even though HR 218 permits them to carry a weapon. They must place their unloaded weapon in a locked gun case inside their checked luggage and declare it to the airline at check-in.
All law enforcement officers flying armed must submit a National Law Enforcement Telecommunications System message at least 24 hours before travel. The instructor/point-of-contact for each agency must request training materials and meet the instructor qualification standards of their agency. The training is available from the Federal Air Marshal Service, and the program training material can be obtained by emailing the Office of Law Enforcement/Federal Air Marshal Service (OLE/FAMS).
It is important to note that law enforcement officers who do not meet the above requirements, such as those with limited authority or those employed by a non-taxpayer-funded agency, are not permitted to carry accessible weapons while travelling.
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Frequently asked questions
Federal agents and officers are typically allowed to fly armed as long as they have completed the necessary training and have maintained the annual refresher training. Local law enforcement officers typically need to be on official business and have prior approval from their agency.
Law enforcement officers must complete the TSA Law Enforcement Officer Flying Armed Training Course. The training material is available from the Federal Air Marshal Service.
Yes, law enforcement officers with an operational need to travel armed must present acceptable credentials to the airline as outlined in 49 CFR § 1544.219.
Retired officers are excluded from flying armed. They must place their unloaded weapon inside a locked gun case and place it inside checked luggage.
Federal agents and officers are allowed to carry knives when flying, but it is not clear whether local law enforcement officers are also permitted to do so.
