Should flight attendants learn hand to hand combat?

[TWTR4EVER]

In all my years as a Flight Attendant (1976/1987) for TWA and 1989/2002 for Trans*Brasil Airlines it was company policy in both carriers not to interfere physically against terrorist, I always thought it was ludicrous and in retrospective I was always ready with my bottle/can opener I kept in my pocket during cabin service and for the duration of the flight to protect myself, together with basic Judo (green belt) because Air Marshals are far and few between!

[Planeguy13]

@TWTR4EVER Good for you! :) Pre-9/11 the best thing was to stay calm and cooperate with the hijackers but now a days fighting back is the best thing to do. It also should be up to a flight attendants discretion on whether or not to cooperate or fight back.

[TWTR4EVER]

@Planeguy13 There's a program right now for cockpit personal that gives them certification to carry their own weapon for protection, the training is fast and heavy and few past it because requires them to be in tip top shape. I'm OK with that, one thing we don't want is people without the proper training and attitude trying to take matters in their own hands specially when the fuselage of an aircraft is like a"Trojan" and decompression could be catastrophic !

[Planeguy13]

@TWTR4EVER I think the federal flight deck officer program is great! The TSA also has a crewmember self defense program for pilots and F/As which is also fantastic!

[TWTR4EVER]

@Planeguy13 I agree, the only downside is the empowerment that some abusive Fight Attendants get, believe me, I've work with many of them who hate their job and they make the life of the passengers and co-workers a living hell!

[Planeguy13]

@TWTR4EVER Unfortunately there are some F/As out there who shouldn't be working as F/As. Overall though I think it would make aviation security much safer if all F/As were given self defense training. Its very possible that 9/11 could have been stopped had those F/As been trained in martial arts... Those heroic F/As on the 9/11 flights did an amazing job. I don't know how they did it. I couldn't have stayed calm like they did.

[CVGhubflyer]

The AFA gives unions a very bad name. Between them and the APFA they have soured so many people. TWA FAs were screwed over again and again. Vote NO WAY AFA!!