In response to the truly outrageous event that shocked the world on the 11th September 2001 airlines across the globe took a number of now necessary actions to protect the lives of their passengers.
Due to their huge responsibilities and operational risks these great professionals require the thinnest, lightest, most comfortable and most concealable body armour out there. Our new and truly outstanding NIJ IIIA+ (NIJ Std 0101.04) covert ballistic vests have been developed with their operational requirements and personal safety in mind.
Suggesting sky marshals should wear covert body armour does not necessary mean we can see a high risk of firearms being used within an aircraft environment. However I certainly suggest there is a risk we need to accept, and this one includes the risk and threat of improvised edged weapons, hypodermic needles and other tools and toys, which can represent danger to the cabin crew or passengers.
So, who are these sky marshals? When did this all start?
The US Federal Aviation Administration began its “Sky Marshal” program in 1968. In 1985 it became known as the Federal Air Marshal Service. In that year, an Egyptian security officer opened fire on three Abu Nidal Organization hijackers, killing one before being fatally shot himself on board EgyptAir Flight 648. Twenty years later Rigoberto Alpizar was shot dead by two sky marshals at MiamiInternationalAirport.
The Canadian Air Carrier Protection/Protective Program (CACPP) began just nine years ago on exactly the 17th September 2002, when an agreement was signed between the Royal Canadian Mounted Police with TransportCanada and the Canadian Air Transport Security Authority. This program is been taken care of by specially and highly trained undercover, armed officers, known as Aircraft Protective Officers. They operate on selected domestic and international flights only. Although these professionals are classed as ‘peace officer’ within Canadian territories, they are acting under the Tokyo Convention as a legal basis for getting involved in an incident outside of Canadian airspace.
By law, these officers do not require a permit for importing or exporting their duty firearms (using very unique ammunition) or for justifying their use of their concealable bullet proof vests when crossing the border.
The Commonwealth instituted an Air Security Officer (ASO) Program under the Australian Federal Police in 2001. This particular programme provides a discreet anti-hijacking capability for Australian civil aviation by providing armed security personnel on board of their aircrafts. This involves both random and intelligence-led placement of armed ASOs on flights operated by Australian registered planes, which includes domestic and international flights into and out of Australia.
In Europe law makers have decided on crystal clear rules allowing the use of armed guards on EU flights under strict conditions in early 2008. Although sky marshals within the EU do already operate and wear bullet proof vests, they will be able to carry weapons on flights only if all nations involved agree. These rules were backed by all 27 EU states.
However, under these fairly new regulations, if member states want to adopt more stringent measures than the basic agreed standards, they will have to be “relevant, objective, non-discriminatory and proportional to the risk”
Personally I feel that anyone with such great responsibilities should be equipped appropriately, and concealable bullet proof vests must be a part of such equipment.
However, such special type of body armour has to be as light, as thin, as concealable and as breathable as possible.
PPSS have developed such covert bullet proof vests, with the aid of outstanding and groundbreaking high performance materials. A ground-breaking European high performance ballistic material, Cordura® 180 and temperature regulating Outlast® space technology are part of our latest development. Our brand new CV1 covert NIJ IIIA (NIJ Std 0101.04) bullet resistant vests also offer additional protection from Tokarev Ball 7.62 x 25mm and Makarov 9 x 18mm. They have been designed to offer especially sky marshals the exceptional protection and comfort they require.
For further information please comment on this blog.
