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By Meredith Gorfein
Rappahannock News Writer
The world of flying has changed quite a bit since Bob Anderson was flying at Eastern — in maqy ways. And so has the world — in many ways.
The disaster at the World Trade Center changed it even more dramatically.
This September when Congress takes up legislation that would allow pilots to arm themselves, flying could change again.
Perhaps it is simply changing with the times.
Perhaps the change is shortsighted.
Views from past pilots
Rappahannock has several retired and two current pilots who were willing to put forward some thoughts. The following pilots are retired.
Bob Anderson, Woodville, has mixed emotions. “In one way it could help; in another way, it could make it worse.”
He had been thinking a lot lately about a hijacking attempt on his airplane about 20 years ago. “A fella came up to the cockpit with his hand in his pocket, pushed past the girl and told me to take him to Cuba.”
Well, Mr. Anderson told him there just wasn’t enough fuel to get there.
The man waited by the door for a bit and then went back and sat down.
Later Mr. Anderson learned from the FBI that the man had told them that he never would have gone through with it: there were too many women and children on board.
Mr. Anderson guessed the man didn’t have a gun, but “you can never be sure.” He added, “What if I had a gun and shot him?”
As it was, everything worked out Fine. Mr. Anderson is still “undecided.”
During his time flying, pilots were trained to “cooperate” with the hijackers.
Just get the plane where it had to go.
No one couid have imagined the plane could be the weapon.
Bob Metcalfe, Flint Hill, is an Air Force trained pilot who flew with TWA and Piedmont/USAir. He comes in at 50/50 on the guns in the cockpit ipue.
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