General Aviation and Guns?

My Christmas gift from my girlfriend was a 90-minute flying lesson that I'll be taking this Saturday in Colorado Springs. I used to work at a company which backed up to the airport's boundaries so I know how far from the passenger terminal the GA section is. Supposedly, it is also illegal(?) for GA aircraft to move about in the area of the airport used for commercial flights.

So far, I've researched that since I'm legal to carry in CO, there are no federal restrictions regarding flying in private aircraft with firearms. Anyone know something to the contrary?

I have no idea if the training center is posted or not and I plan to CC on my flight assuming I'm legal to carry.

PikesPeakMtnMan said:

...there are no federal restrictions regarding flying in private aircraft with firearms. ...

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That part I can confirm. I remember Chuck Yeager used to endorse Weatherby rifles (back when it was really a Weatherby) and Fort Knox safes. I remember him telling how he always had guns in his planes.

The folks at Wild West Guns are famous for their Alaskan "Copilot" rifle, designed as a take-down Marlin Guide Gun for bush pilots.

Howdy Pardner!
Welcome to the Colorado board, and here's a trick I'd suggest:
Call some outfit that offers private flying lessons somewhere in the state that ain't where you are planning to go.
Ask them the question and see what they say about it.
Likely as not, they'd be surprised by the question and may need to research it for you.
In the end you get your question answered, while letting somebody else do the work for you in researching the thing.

Just a thought. It may be a sneaky tactic of getting other people to do the leg work for you, but I seem to do a lot of that in my business.

Blessings,
M-Taliesin

I had thought about doing that and I still may. I'm satisfied that I'll be legal, though.

M-Taliesin said:

In the end you get your question answered, while letting somebody else do the work for you in researching the thing.

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It is highly unlikely that any will do any actual research. You will get a variety of answers based on personal beliefs.

You should NEVER allow someone else to tell you what the law is. You should always research yourself or seek legal counsel. A flight school secretary on the other side of the state will not be paying your legal bills.

Well I went flying today and it was AWESOME! Even during my 5 minutes in the simulator I was the only student who was ever able to actually land back at the airport without power first try.

It's all private property and it's a pretty laid back operation, even outside their back door you are still separated from the actual airport property until you taxi out onto it. Except for airplane access the airport is still all fenced off.

I had my doubts because of the security badge (or escort) requirements for everywhere beyond the front office and I opted to leave my guns behind...I felt safe cuz it was just myself, my girlfriend and the pilot and NO WAY was I going to shoot the only person who could safely return me to earth LOL.

I am a pilot and flight instructor and can confirm that there are no restrictions when carrying a gun in General Aviation aircraft. I carry all the time when flying my Cessna 182 and and have not encountered any problems with the exception of the TSA being at Centennial airport and trying to tell me that is was illegal. We had a brief discussion and reminded them that they were not responsible for my personal aircraft and that they had no jurisdiction within the airport operations area that I was in. I can not carry when on a Charter flight in the jet that I fly but the boss has no issues when I am transporting him.

General Aviation aircraft as the same as being in your own car and the same general rules apply. I have been all over the state and have not encountered any problems being mindful that I am not in the Commercial Aircraft Operations area. Enjoy your flying and if you take more lessons you will find that it is alot of fun. I have been flying for 33 years now and it is incorporated into my job as well. I use my plane as a company car and is a great way to get around. If you have any more questions you can always PM me.....

Carry On.