Prisoner Transport
 

Hello all, This question is for all the airline folks out there. I'm the pilot for a Sheriff's Dept. We operate our own turbo-prop aircraft for our prisoner extraditions (coast to coast). Generally, when we land the local agency is waiting at the airport with our prisoner. They almost always tell me that they wish they could operate their own aircraft, because of the problems with the airlines. Many of them tell us that they are frequently denied boarding because the Captain does not want them on the aircraft.
I understand that having a prisoner onboard may make "some" passengers uncomfortable. But, if the prisoner is boarded "discreatly" first, sits in the rear, and is the last to deplane (as per regs), what is the problem?
I would think that in this post 9-11 era airlines would be more open to having L.E.O.s on the aircraft. Is this really common?

Thanks,
TG

No problem at CAL. I see prisoners boarded on a regular basis. First on - last row - last off just as you say. Have you seen Con Air? Don't touch the bunny.....

I see prisoners being boarded on a regular basis, never heard of any problems...are you sure that the other LEO's weren't trying to ship a con on FedEx or UPS? :p

Concur. What COULD be a problem was an unaccompanied minor or runaway being "sent" somewhere they didn't want to go.

The only issue that I had with a transport was a deportation that was initially refused by the crew.

US customs shows up with a passenger in handcuffs and tells us that she is non-violent and being transported back to Canada (apparently she had broken a law and was being deported, for what we weren't sure and that's what made us nervous). We were handed her passport and told to return it to her after we arrived in Toronto. She was then uncuffed and seated and the customs officers departed, leaving us with their "little problem."

We ended up refusing to take her unless she was accompanied for the trip by a customs officer, which ended up happening (the airline comped an open seat).

Other than that I've had prisoners onboard several times. Mostly AWOL military folks and runaways, but occasionally somebody listed as "high-risk" with two escorts.

How do you get a job flying prisionors? Its crossed my mind more than once. Figured as long as people keep breaking the law I'll have a job, making for stable employment.

Now that IS a problem. Customs escorts the deportee to the jet and gives the purser their passport with instructions to give hand it over at the destination. It's about a 50/50 chance for the whole thing to go South.

I can't tell you how many mail order brides I've taken back to Asia.

Years ago I had a real bad dude,double murderer, in cuffs being escorted by two deputys. I had to meet with them before we started boarding. I asked what this guy did. The answer was that he exited a grayhound bus out in the country somewhere, walked to the nearest house and killed the two people there. He said that "Jesus told him to do it". My airline won`t allow anyone on board with cuffs, so the deputy in charge was going to uncuff the guy. I told the escorts to leave him in cuffs and to throw a folded coat over the cuffs. The duputy asked what about if the prisoner needed to go to the john during flight? I said let him pee in his pants, I don`t want to worry about Jesus telling him to kill the pilot.

Flyerjosh,

Yeah, I don't blame you. That person is in their custody, it is there responsibility to make sure they get to where they are going. Not an unarmed civilian.

ERJ135,

It is a great job. Many Sheriff's Offices operate ME fixed wing aircraft. From Barons to MU-2s, Turbo Commanders, C-12s (military King Airs) and even Saberliners. Most L.E. agencies hire pilots from within (after about 4 years on the streets) this is especially true with the helicopters. However, with the ME fixed wings many times agencies have to hire from outside, this is because many Deputies do not meet insurance requirments for the aircraft. They then send them through an Academy to get them certified as an LEO.
There is also the JPATS program through the Marshalls Service. I never work with them, but they do hire from time to time (check out USAJOBS.com). They require ATP with a type rating in something. I do not know that much about them, perhaps someone here could give more info.
I was lucky enough to be a Deputy Sheriff, and have all the ratings and flight times. One of our pilots retired so I took over. It is truely one of the best flying gigs around though. M-F, usually 8-5, weekends and holidays off. But, most important like you said, Job Security. Even if I were to loose my medical I would still have a job. I'll never be laid off or furloughed. Granted I'll never make 100K/yr, but oh well. I hardly ever care what the ride is like at 310, as long as I'm comfortable that is all that matters. We always joke and say that "We are the only airline that is not hurting for business and we don't even advertise, we don't even invite these people but they just keep coming!"