quote:

Originally posted by Eponym:
List of Acronyms
FFDO - Federal Flight Deck Officer

You're welcome.

I'll say again: I sure do wish we could have a stickied list of acronyms for those of us who haven't been there and done that.

If it helps any, while I support the FFDO program (federal flight deck officer), I've shot alongside a variety of airline pilots who hold that qualification that can't hit the broadside of a barn. I mean literally, couldn't put rounds on the target in slow fire, let alone with any semblance of speed. How they managed to do it seated at targets behind them, enough to pass a class, is a mystery. That they manage to leave the cockpit without their weapon speaks more to the question of what they're doing in the cockpit in the first place, as opposed to scrubbing grease of a pan somewhere.

That said, my wallet did make a trip around the world once after it fell out of my flight bag in a dark cockpit, somewhere in the middle east. I finally caught up with it in New Jersey.

quote:

Originally posted by DonDraper:
What is an FFDO? Is that an article or a giant advertisement? I'm so confused

From the fifth (5th) post:

quote:

Originally posted by Eponym:
List of Acronyms
FFDO - Federal Flight Deck Officer

You're welcome.

Also in the ninth (9th) post and the thirteenth (13th) post in the thread.

The best solve for click bait titles or undefined acronyms is to simply report the thread. That allows management to handle as deemed appropriate....

quote:

My point is, an acronym should be expanded (defined) the first time it is used.

That seems like a simple enough courtesy to expect.

quote:

Originally posted by vthoky: I'll say again: I sure do wish we could have a stickied list of acronyms for those of us who haven't been there and done that.

"..or tried an honest search on the internet and came up with nothing."

C'mon guys. I give all of us here enough credit to have the capability to educate ourselves. Personally, I'll wear out Duck Duck Go looking for an answer before I post a question whose answer can be found on the internet with a modicum of effort.

Well, sir, I can't fault you at all for wanting us to go out and educate ourselves. It's true, I could have copied and pasted FFDO into the almighty Google and didn't do it. With sincerity rather than sarcasm, I apologize.

However, it's not infrequently that there are acronyms used here by "more experienced" members, seemingly with the expectation that everyone else instantly knows what the heck the writer is talking about, and particularly from members of the law enforcement and military communities. I'll echo V-Tail's statement regarding expanding acronyms on their first use in a thread. It'd simply be a nice thing.

And with that, I'll offer my apology for the thread drift.

quote:

Originally posted by V-Tail:

quote:

Originally posted by Eponym:
List of Acronyms
FFDO - Federal Flight Deck Officer

You're welcome.

Yup, it was there, in the linked article, once you click on the link, wait for the article (and all the ads*) to load, and scroll down toward the bottom.

My point is, an acronym should be expanded (defined) the first time it is used.

I did a fair amount of technical and educational writing, eons ago, at Bell Labs. The rule was, the first time an acronym appears, it is explained either inline in parentheses, or in a footnote on the same page.

I'm not trying to pick an argument with you, just shouting from my soapbox.

We're good. I wasn't trying to pick an argument either.

Eli Lilly had a similar policy. All acronyms had to be spelled out when first used and/or included in a dictionary of terms at the end of a document.

LSMFT (Lucky Strike Means Fine Tobacco)

quote:

Originally posted by sns3guppy:
How they managed to do it seated at targets behind them, enough to pass a class, is a mystery.

Because the distances involved in training are rather short. We had our nickname for the qualification, and it didn't have anything to do with Quigley or Wyatt Earp. We called it the Ray Charles Invitational.

I flew with a newly-minted FFDO (captain) who was one of the first to qualify in the program. During his initial cockpit brief he said "If the cockpit door gets breached, you'll have the airplane while I dispense justice in the world's smallest jurisdiction. Oh, and it's going to be REALLY loud!"

Yes, acronyms should be defined at use FFS (For Freddy’s Sake), but folks do sometimes slip and use an acronym that is familiar without realizing they have.

When working at a tech company we quickly learned to have the newbies read the documentation. The experienced hand would often look at it, review it, and bless it as good. The newbie would often ask “How the **** did you get from step C to step G?” The experienced hand’s brain had filled in the missing steps and he hadn’t realized it.

As far as how well Federal Flight Deck Officers (FFDOs) shoot, I’m sure their skill level varies, just like cops or ordinary citizens. I’m sure that the Federal bureaucracy running the program could run it better, offering more training and setting higher standards. I still support them being there. I’m not interested in making the perfect the enemy of the good.

I don't think I've ever heard one good thing about how the FFDO program is run. The Air Marshall program is supposedly pretty screwy as well.

quote:

Originally posted by Otto Pilot:

quote:

Originally posted by sns3guppy:
How they managed to do it seated at targets behind them, enough to pass a class, is a mystery.

Because the distances involved in training are rather short. We had our nickname for the qualification, and it didn't have anything to do with Quigley or Wyatt Earp. We called it the Ray Charles Invitational.

Yeah. These guys had no hits on paper with aimed fire at 3-7 yards. In fact, the two give-aways were the HK .40 USP, and their inability to hit squat. Each time, they were sure that something was wrong with the pistol.

In their cases, the safest place for the terrorist to be is close to the FFDO, because if the bad guy spends too much time aft of the forward galley, the passengers will tear him apart.

quote:

Originally posted by sns3guppy: Yeah. These guys had no hits on paper with aimed fire at 3-7 yards. In fact, the two give-aways were the HK .40 USP, and their inability to hit squat. Each time, they were sure that something was wrong with the pistol.

I bought my FFDO copy when HK had the special going on for airline pilots. It is not the pistol's fault, but over 1500 rounds later I still can't hit the broad side of a barn with mine. Frustrating as hell for somebody who used to shoot respectable scores with other pistols in IDPA on a regular basis.

My left-handed buddy? He can't miss with it, and has a standing offer to buy it should I ever sell it. (Maybe HK sold me a left-handed version?)

It may be that they sent you the railroad version, meant for train engineers. Send it back and request the aviator model.

I don’t think the H&K LEM trigger is the best for mid-length range shooting. For CC & tight distance, it suits me fine. Take your 1911 to the range.

There is that ‘deterrent’ effect with the FFDO program. One could argue the extent of that effect.

Yes, ‘able body passengers’ can be valuable help. I handcuffed a guy years ago in flight. It culminated with him punching a guy in the face and grabbing a lady in the chest. I kid you not, one ‘helper’ could of filled in for the Hulk. He could of handled 5 crazies, which this guy was.

Like everything, it’s good to have options in the toolbox. Most of the time things ramp up, word gets up front that trouble could be brewing.