Tasers are used to immobilize wildlife for research, relocation, or treatment. Since they are classified as a form of torture, it is more common to use tranquilizer darts.[106]

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In response to the claims that the pain inflicted by the use of the TASER device could potentially constitute torture, Tom Smith, the Chairman of the TASER Board, stated that the U.N. is "out of touch" with the needs of modern policing and asserted that "Pepper spray goes on for hours and hours, hitting someone with a baton breaks limbs, shooting someone with a firearm causes permanent damage, even punching and kicking—the intent of those tools is to inflict pain, ... with the TASER device, the intent is not to inflict pain; it's to end the confrontation. When it's over, it's over."[109]

As of September 30, 2024, Axon has three main models of TASER conducted electrical weapons (CEWs) available for law enforcement use but not necessarily civilian use. Civilians, however, have access to the TASER Pulse, which runs at a 30 second cycle once fired to allow the victim the opportunity to escape.

In the United States, TASERs are marketed as less-lethal, since the possibility of serious injury or death exists whenever the weapon is deployed. At least 49 people died in 2018 after being shocked by police with a Taser.[3] Personal use TASERs are marketed in the US, but prohibited in Canada. In Canada, all taser possession is considered illegal. There is a categorical ban on all conducted energy weapons such as stun guns or tasers, according to section 84 of the Canada Criminal Code. TASERs in Canada are only legal for Law Enforcement users.

In one incident, an Aerospatiale Tobago (TB10) was being taxied to check an instrument repair. When the pilot depressed the left brake pedal, it went to the floor, and the brake failed. Using rudder and the right brake, the pilot was able to taxi back to the ramp. A bystander was the first to notice that the left main wheel was on fire. What happened? The compression fitting that attached the brake line to the brake failed, and when the pilot stepped on the brake pedal, it squirted brake fluid onto the hot brake disk. It took seven 20-pound fire extinguishers to put out the fire. The pilot evacuated the aircraft quickly and wasn't injured.

Carbon dioxide — CO2 — fire extinguishers are used to combat class B and C fires. The CO2 exits the nozzle at about minus 100 degrees F, forming fine particles of dry ice that condense moisture from the air, then quickly melt in the presence of a fire. These extinguishers extinguish a fire by smothering it — displacing the oxygen needed for combustion. CO2 extinguishers work well to douse engine fires on the ground, and are sometimes used in built-in engine fire suppression systems.

You can help prevent a fire by thoroughly inspecting your aircraft before flight, and you can be prepared by having a fire extinguisher always at hand.

Stun gun

Pilots can face four types of aircraft fires — fires during engine start, electrical fires, in-flight engine fires, and post-crash fires. It's important that you understand the proper checklist procedures for each type and the reasons behind the checklist items.

Tasers are classified as weapons under Federal Law No. 3 of 2009, and therefore require a valid license to own or import.[90]

A study of U.S. police and sheriff departments found that 29.6% of the jurisdictions allowed the use of Drive Stun for gaining compliance in a passive resistance arrest scenario, with no physical contact between the officer and the subject. For a scenario that also includes non-violent physical contact, this number is 65.2%.[52]

Using a dry chemical extinguisher in the cockpit during flight can have serious side effects. Flying powder from a short burst can cloud the cockpit and your vision, making it difficult, if not impossible, to read the instruments or control the aircraft. Also, some dry chemical extinguishers pose potential toxicity concerns, but if you consider the alternative — a raging fire — the choice is clear.

Aircraft fires often occur following forced landings, and the result is often more dangerous than the forced landing itself. The sad truth is that most light aircraft fuel systems are not designed to withstand crash impacts, and they often fail during a forced landing. Spilled fuel and hot crash components often result in a fuel-fed inferno.

Most general aviation aircraft use dry chemical extinguishers. Inexpensive and versatile, they extinguish class A (combustible materials such as paper air filters, foam seat cushions, rags, and birds' nests), class B (liquid fuel such as oil, hydraulic fluid and avgas), and class C (electrical) fires. Because you need to apply the chemical directly to the flames, putting out an electrical fire behind the instrument panel can be difficult.

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TASER7

Opening another vent, if available, or cracking a door might be a better option. Venting the smoke may improve breathing and vision — but it can also fan the fire's flames with fresh air. If this happens we have no option but to close the vents.

Dry chemical extinguishers aren't the best choice for engine fires. If the engine ingests the chemical, it can caramelize on the valves and result in engine damage or failure. If you must use a dry chemical extinguisher to extinguish an engine fire on the ground, shut the engine down first by pulling the mixture to idle-cutoff. This not only keeps the engine from eating any chemicals, it robs the fire of fuel.

Detecting an in-flight engine fire may not be as easy as we might think, but sometimes we can detect the fire's cause if we're observant. A drop in fuel pressure or a fluctuating fuel pressure reading may suggest a broken fuel line — a common precursor to an engine fire. A rough-running engine might be caused by a cracked cylinder, which can leak oil or hot gas and ignite a blaze.

Tasers have a long history of use to prevent the escape of dangerous suspects without needing to resort to lethal force, or used to capture suspects without risking serious injuries to both the officer and the suspect. US patent by Kunio Shimizu titled "Arrest device" filed in 1966 describes an electrical discharge gun with a projectile connected to a wire with a pair of electrode needles for skin attachment.[8]

Guidelines released in 2011 by the U.S. Department of Justice recommend that use of Drive Stun as a pain compliance technique be avoided.[51] The guidelines were issued by a joint committee of the Police Executive Research Forum and the U.S. Department of Justice Office of Community Oriented Policing Services. The guidelines state "Using the CEW to achieve pain compliance may have limited effectiveness and, when used repeatedly, may even exacerbate the situation by inducing rage in the subject."

Fulton County, Georgia District Attorney Paul Howard Jr. said in 2020 that "under Georgia law, a taser is considered as a deadly weapon."[43][44][45] A 2012 study published in the American Heart Association's journal Circulation found that Tasers can cause "ventricular arrhythmias, sudden cardiac arrest and even death."[46][47] In 2014, NAACP State Conference President Scot X. Esdaile and the Connecticut NAACP argued that Tasers cause lethal results.[48] Reuters reported that more than 1,000 people shocked with a Taser by police died through the end of 2018, nearly all of them since the early 2000s.[49] At least 49 people died in the US in 2018 after being shocked by police with a Taser.[3]

By definition, electrical fires originate from electrical components. Often, we can detect an electrical fire before it really gets going. The first clue might be an over-voltage warning light, a higher than normal electrical load, or a popped circuit breaker. The acrid smell of hot insulation or visible white smoke also are common indicators — but don't be fooled. In one incident, white smoke filled the cabin of a Piper Arrow, leading the pilot and instructor to think they had an electrical fire. In reality, they had a fuel fire in the engine compartment, which had begun to melt the ducts that supply heated air to the cabin.

The typical checklist procedure for an in-flight engine fire is to pull the mixture to idle-cutoff and shut off the fuel selector. Because cabin heat ducting passes through the firewall into the cabin and because we want to keep the blaze on the engine side of the firewall, most checklists say to shut off the cabin heat.

The TASER 10 device was officially announced by Axon on January 24, 2023.[40] The TASER 10 was dubbed the "less-lethal weapon of its era" by Axon. In addition to the functions of the TASER 7, the TASER 10 features an increased probe distance of up to 45 feet, waterproof capabilities, increased probe velocity (205 feet per second), and ability to deploy the probes individually allowing the officer to create their own "spread" unlike previous models, which relied heavily on precise aiming of the prongs at a fixed angle with the assistance of two lasers.[41]

Under the Law of the People's Republic of China on the Control of Firearms and Public Security Punishment Law, tasers are prohibited for civilian ownership in China without an application for a state licence. A weapons permit is required to purchase and own a taser.[80]

Amnesty International has expressed particular concern about Drive Stun, noting that "the potential to use TASERs in drive-stun mode—where they are used as 'pain compliance' tools when individuals are already effectively in custody—and the capacity to inflict multiple and prolonged shocks, renders the weapons inherently open to abuse."[56]

But a fire is more likely to occur under the cowl when a component fails because of age, fatigue, or improper maintenance. A cherry-red turbocharger or a crack in the exhaust system or a cylinder can ignite the spray from a broken fuel or oil line to create an impromptu blast furnace.

Electrical power from alternators, generators, and batteries constitutes another potential heat source. With power routed to virtually every part of the aircraft for lighting, deicing, radios, landing gear and flap motors, and fuel pumps, the electrical system is another prime candidate for starting fires. Insulation, adhesives, and fabrics make great fuel for fire, as does the insulation on the wiring itself. Leaking avgas from a primer or fuel-flow gauge, or dripping fluid from a brake cylinder are also excellent fuels that an errant electrical spark can ignite.

If we have time to communicate before powering down the electrical system, we have three options. Call ATC, broadcast in the blind on the emergency frequency of 121.5 MHz, or tune the 7700 emergency code into the transponder and IDENT. Taking a few seconds to do any of these things before we shut down the electrical system might alert someone to the problem and bring fire/rescue services to the scene as we head for an airport. Finally, if it has a manual switch, we can activate the emergency locator transmitter. The beauty of the ELT is that it has its own power supply and will bring help to the scene of a forced landing should that become necessary.

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Black smoke usually signals an oil fire, and fuel usually burns bright orange. By the time you get the "hot-foot" symptom, the fire is already blazing on the other side of the firewall. In-flight engine fires are different from electrical fires, and we use different tactics to deal with them. The checklists for engine fires vary, but usually the first step is to shut off the fuel supply. If we're flying a single-engine airplane, we might be tempted to run the engine until it gets us to safety, but this strategy can backfire. Unless we extinguish the blaze, we run the risk of a structural failure or an in-flight barbecue.

If starting a fire is a matter of combining fuel, air, and an ignition source, it stands to reason that removing one of these ingredients will extinguish a fire. That's the premise of most emergency checklists for fire, but the checklist is also designed to help minimize damage, deal with the smoke, and get the aircraft on the ground quickly and safely.

Although the engine and electrical system constitute the primary ignition sources, they aren't the only causes of fires. Witness ValuJet flight 592, where oxygen canisters ignited and caused a fatal crash. Butane lighters have also been known to explode at altitude, and although smoking is not allowed on commercial flights, it's an obvious fire hazard on any aircraft.

Our most immediate objective is to get out of the aircraft as quickly as possible. Discharging the contents of a Halon fire extinguisher in the cabin immediately after the aircraft comes to a stop may help prevent a cabin fire from erupting for a few critical moments. An extinguisher also makes a great battering ram to knock out windows and force stubborn exits to open.

We can shut off all our electrical components, turn the master switch back on, and start turning on essential components one at a time. With any luck, a non-critical item will be the culprit, and we can continue on to land at the nearest airport.

The diagnosis of excited delirium has been controversial.[64][65] Excited delirium has been listed as a cause of death by some medical examiners for several years,[66][67] mainly as a diagnosis of exclusion established on autopsy.[57] Additionally, academic discussion of excited delirium has been largely confined to forensic science literature, providing limited documentation about patients that survive the condition.[57] These circumstances have led some civil liberties groups to question the cause of death diagnosis, claiming that excited delirium has been used to "excuse and exonerate" law enforcement authorities following the death of detained subjects, a possible "conspiracy or cover-up for brutality" when restraining agitated individuals.[57][64][65] Also contributing to the controversy is the role of TASER device use in excited delirium deaths.[62][68]

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There are a number of cartridges designated by range, with the maximum at 35 feet (11 m).[22] Cartridges available to non-law enforcement consumers are limited to 15 feet (4.6 m).[27] Practically speaking, police officers must generally be within 15 to 25 feet (4.6 to 7.6 m) to use a Taser, though the X26's probes can travel as far as 35 feet.[28][23]

Dealing with an in-flight fire is a difficult proposition, but without the right tools it can be virtually hopeless. Part of your preflight check should include the fire extinguisher. Don't just see that it's there, look at its gauge and make sure it's in the green. Commercial operators must service, inspect, and weigh aircraft fire extinguishers monthly, and Part 91 operators should adopt a similar routine. Several types of extinguishers are commonly used for fighting aircraft fires, and it's important to distinguish between them. They have different characteristics, and some are better suited to particular situations than others.

Stun guns and tasers made in Russia can be purchased for self-defense without special permission, however, under the Federal Law No. 150 "On Weapons" of the Russian Federation it's illegal to import and subsequent sale of any foreign stun devices or tasers into the country. The ban has been in place since the first version of the law was approved in 1996.[88][89]

Regardless of how we handle the electrical system following a fire, continuing the flight any longer than is necessary is out of the question. An in-flight fire is extremely dangerous, and you must land immediately — at the nearest airport, if possible — but possibly at an appropriate off-airport site.

Jack Cover, a NASA researcher, began developing the first Taser in 1969.[9] By 1974, Cover had completed the device, which he named TASER, using a loose acronym of the title of the book Tom Swift and His Electric Rifle, a book written by the Stratemeyer Syndicate under the pseudonym Victor Appleton and featuring Cover's childhood hero, Tom Swift.[10][11] The name made sense, given that the Taser delivers an electric shock. This was also done on the pattern of laser, as both a Taser and a laser fire a beam at an object.

The best insurance against an aircraft fire is professional maintenance and a thorough preflight inspection. Always look for evidence of fuel, oil, and hydraulic leaks, and use your nose as well as your eyes. Carefully check under the cowl for bird nests, windblown debris, and misplaced rags. Check the exhaust stacks for security and cracks, and look for loose or leaking fittings on the brakes.

Before takeoff, test all the electrical components that you might use during flight, and watch for any indications of impending failure. A pitot heat switch that fails and burns is much easier to cope with on the ground than while you enter the clouds at 1,000 feet.

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The earliest known case of a taser being used on a child was on June 10, 1991, when one was used to incapacitate an 11-year-old girl in order to kidnap her. According to Jaycee Dugard, whenever she tried to escape, her kidnapper threatened to use the taser again.[95]

A TASER is a conducted energy device (CED) primarily used to incapacitate people, allowing them to be approached and handled in an unresisting and thus less-lethal manner. The brand name product is sold by Axon, formerly TASER International,[1] the TASER fires two small barbed darts intended to puncture the skin and remain attached to the target until removed by the user of the TASER device. The deployment of a taser typically reaches a speed of 55 m/s (120 mph; 200 km/h) and a range extending from 4.5 m (15 ft) for non-Law Enforcement Tasers to 10.5 m (34 ft) for Law Enforcement Tasers. The darts are connected to the main unit by thin wires that achieve a high dielectric strength and durability given the extreme high-voltage, (e.g., 50,000 volts, or 2000 volts under load). The wire core often being copper wire modulates electric current designed to disrupt voluntary control of muscles, causing "neuromuscular incapacitation (NMI)." When successfully used, the target is said to have been "tased". The effects of a taser may only be localized pain or strong involuntary long muscle contractions, based on the mode (tasing frequency when operated, and environmental factors) of use and connectivity of the darts.[2]

Fortunately, aircraft fires are relatively rare, but considering the serious consequences, particularly in flight, it's important to know the procedures for dealing with a fire, and to practice them often. Get out that emergency checklist, and make sure you know exactly what to do when a fire heats up your flying.

Tasers have been in use by UK police forces since 2001, and they require 18 hours of initial training, followed by six hours of annual top-up training, in order for a police officer to be allowed to carry and use one.[91] Members of the general public are not allowed to own tasers, with possession or sale of a taser punishable by up to 10 years in prison. As of September 2019, 30,548 (19%) of police officers were trained to use tasers.[92] Tasers were deployed 23,000 times from March 2018 to March 2019, compared to only 10,000 times in 2013; however the UK police definition of "deployed" means that the weapon has been drawn; in the majority of cases it will not have been fired.[93] In March 2020, extra funding was provided to purchase devices to allow more than 8,000 extra British police officers to carry a taser.[94]

TASER10 for sale

Again, an engine fire may mean smoke in the cockpit, and various manufacturers recommend different ways to deal with it. As with an electrical fire, it may be advisable to open a vent or window, or crack open a door to remove the smoke, but you may want to choose one that's away from the pilot. In some aircraft, even a minor change in flap setting can alter the flow of air around the aircraft, which may affect how well windows and vents can clear cockpit smoke.

The best friend a pilot can have in the cockpit is a Halon extinguisher. Environmental concerns about ozone depletion and greenhouse warming have forced a ban on the production of Halon, but portable Halon 1211 extinguishers are still available, and will be until the present supply is exhausted. In the meantime, we can expect prices to rise.

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Since April 2008, tasers can be legally purchased by persons 18 and older, but can only be carried by persons with a firearm carry permit (Waffenschein), which is only issued under very restricted conditions.

Excited delirium is not found in the current version of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders. The term excited delirium was accepted by the National Association of Medical Examiners and the American College of Emergency Physicians, who argued in a 2009 white paper that excited delirium may be described by several codes within the ICD-9.[57] In 2017, investigative reporters from Reuters reported that three of the 19 members of the 2009 task force were paid consultants for Axon, the manufacturer of Tasers.[69][70]

If the fire is already burning hot, cutting the power won't be enough. You'll need to use an extinguisher to squelch the flames — a tricky proposition if the fire is behind the instrument panel. Once the fire is out, some checklists suggest that we try to restore power and isolate its cause.

On the ground, knowing how to start a fire can save your life in a survival situation. In an airplane, fire is a four-letter word. If you aren't prepared to extinguish it, your chances of survival are slim at best.

Former TASER International CEO Patrick Smith testified in a TASER-related lawsuit that the catalyst for the development of the device was the "shooting death of two of his high school acquaintances" by a "guy with a legally licensed gun who lost his temper".[14] The two decedents, Todd Bogers and Cory Holmes, died in 1991 not 1990 as Smith has claimed. Family members and friends of the two state that Smith was not friends with them, as Smith has claimed, and they were never "football teammates", as Smith has claimed. The two graduated before Smith attended Chaparral High School. Family members of the two have criticized his use of their deaths for profit.[15][16]

In 2001, Germany approved a pilot project allowing individual states to issue tasers to their SEK teams (police tactical units); by 2018, 13 out of 16 states had done so. A number of states have also provided a limited number of tasers to their general police forces. Some states, such as Berlin, have use of force guidelines that only permit taser use where firearm use would also be justified.[81]

Only members of law enforcement are allowed to own a taser legally.[78] However, according to an article by The Globe and Mail, many Canadians illegally purchase tasers from the US, where they are legal.[79]

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Among the most common emergency procedures that pilots practice are engine failures, instrument failures (particularly for instrument-rated pilots), and various system failures such as flaps, propellers, alternators, and brakes. But when was the last time you practiced the emergency procedures for a fire, either on the ground or in the air?

A fire needs only three ingredients — fuel, air, and an ignition source (heat). Put these three ingredients in the proper juxtaposition, and voila — fire. Unfortunately, a running aircraft has plenty of hot things that can quickly ignite a fire. Most of them are under the cowling, where a fire rages inside the engine. The cylinders contain the fire, but they also absorb the heat and can warm to a few hundred degrees — hot enough to ignite many combustibles.

TASER10

In 1993, Rick Smith and his brother Thomas founded the original company, TASER,[17] and began to investigate what they called "safer use of force option[s] for citizens and law enforcement". At their Scottsdale, Arizona, facilities, the brothers worked with Cover to develop a "non-firearm TASER electronic control device".[18] The 1994 Air TASER Model 34000 conducted energy device had an "anti-felon identification (AFID) system" to prevent the likelihood that the device would be used by criminals; upon use, it released many small pieces of paper containing the serial number of the TASER device. The U.S. firearms regulator, the ATF, stated that the Air TASER conducted energy device was not a firearm.

An in-flight engine fire is usually a two-fold emergency. First there's the fire, and then comes the harrowing adventure of making an emergency descent and landing — probably not to a runway. Here we may need to choose between slipping the aircraft to improve forward visibility, or keeping the nose straight to help blow out the blaze and get on the ground more quickly. Unfortunately, this is a learn-as-you-go situation.

In May 2023, in Cooma, NSW, Australia, police tasered a 95-yr old dementia patient from less than 2 m (6.6 ft) away after apparently giving up on negotiations with her to drop the knife she was holding. At the time, she was standing upright & holding onto her 4-wheel walker. She survived the incident, but succumbed to head injuries sustained in the subsequent fall and died a week later. Her Estate sued the NSW Government, and, in April 2024, the accused & suspended police officer plead not guilty to manslaughter & remains free on bail awaiting trial.[104][105]

In 1999, TASER International developed an "ergonomically handgun-shaped device called the Advanced TASER M-series systems," which used a "patented neuromuscular incapacitation (NMI) technology." In May 2003, TASER International released a new weapon called the TASER X26 conducted energy device, which used "shaped pulse technology." On July 27, 2009, TASER International released a new type of TASER device called the X3, which can fire three shots before reloading. It holds three new type cartridges, which are much thinner than the previous model.[19] On April 5, 2017, TASER announced that it was rebranding itself as Axon to reflect its expanded business into body cameras and software. In 2018, TASER 7 conducted energy device was released, the seventh generation of TASER devices from Axon.[20]

The book says to keep cranking the engine if this happens. This should suck the flames back through the carburetor and extinguish the blaze, and if the engine starts, let it run for a minute or so, then shut it down and inspect the damage. If the engine doesn't start after cranking it for the time recommended by the checklist, shut down, evacuate the aircraft, and, if it's not already extinguished, use the extinguisher to put out the fire.

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The chances of having a fire are slim, but reacting quickly and correctly is essential to effectively dealing with the emergency. When a fire erupts, you may have little time to consult the emergency checklist, and if you're confused or uncertain about the procedures, your reactions may be slow and inappropriate.

Once ignited, electrical fires burn just like any fire. One difference is that the heat from the energized electrical wiring or component that caused the fire might sustain it. For this reason, your first step if you have an electrical fire is to cut the power by turning off the master switch. By isolating the battery and alternator/generator, we remove the ignition source, and the fire should extinguish.

A 2009 report by the Police Executive Research Forum in the United States found that police officer injuries dropped by 76% in large law enforcement agencies that deployed taser devices in the first decade of the 21st century compared with those that did not use them at all.[5] Axon and its CEO Rick Smith have claimed that unspecified "police surveys" show that the device has "saved 75,000 lives through 2011."[6][7] A more recent academic study suggested police use of conducted electrical weapons in the United States was less risky to police officers than hands-on tactics, and showed officer injury rates equal to use of chemicals such as pepper spray.

Excited delirium is thought to involve delirium, psychomotor agitation, anxiety, hallucinations, speech disturbances, disorientation, violent and bizarre behavior, insensitivity to pain, elevated body temperature, and increased strength.[57][61] Excited delirium is associated with sudden death (usually via cardiac or respiratory arrest), particularly following the use of physical control measures, including police restraint and TASER devices.[57][61] Excited delirium is most commonly diagnosed in male subjects with a history of serious mental illness or acute or chronic drug abuse, particularly stimulant drugs such as cocaine.[57][62] Alcohol withdrawal or head trauma may also contribute to the condition.[63]

Because reenergizing the circuits might recreate the situation that caused the fire in the first place, finding its cause might not be the best option. Another school of thought says we should communicate before cutting the power — if we have time — then refrain from reenergizing the system and possibly restarting the fire. This might mean a no-flap landing or lowering the landing gear manually, but it sure beats incapacitation and an early grave. It's a difficult decision to make, especially if we're on a night flight or in instrument conditions. A good flashlight (or three or four), a handheld transceiver, and a handheld GPS navigation receiver can come in real handy if a fire puts the electrical system out of commission.

A TASER device fires two small dart-like electrodes, which stay connected to the main unit by thin insulated copper wire as they are propelled by small compressed nitrogen charges.[21][22] The cartridge contains a pair of electrodes and propellant for a single shot and is replaced after each use. Once fired the probes travel at 180 feet (55 m) per second, spread 12 inches (300 mm) apart for every 7 feet (2.1 m) they travel, and must land at least 4 inches (100 mm) apart from each other to complete the circuit and channel an electric pulse into the target person's body.[23] They deliver a modulated electric current designed to disrupt voluntary control of muscles, causing "neuromuscular incapacitation." The effects of a TASER device may only be localized pain or strong involuntary long muscle contractions, based on the mode of use, connectivity and location of the darts.[24][25] The TASER device is marketed as less-lethal, since the possibility of serious injury or death exists whenever the weapon is deployed.[26]

Be sure to read the pilot's operating handbook for every aircraft you fly — and make sure you thoroughly understand the proper procedures for each.

Having a fire extinguisher is only half the battle — when it comes to putting out a fire, technique is everything. A big problem, especially in class B (liquid fuel) fires, is flashback — flames from one part of the fire reignite the fuel that has been extinguished. The only way to avoid flashback is to extinguish the entire fire at once. To accomplish this, squeeze the extinguisher handles together and sweep back and forth across the flame bases as quickly as possible.

The TASER 7 device is the second newest of all four CEWs. It is a two-shot device with spiral darts that spool from the dart allowing the probes to fly straighter. The TASER 7 device's rapid arc technology with adaptive cross connections allows for full incapacitation. The TASER 7 CEW connects wirelessly to the Axon Evidence network that includes inventory management capabilities among other things.[20]

Detecting a fire on the ground isn't always easy. Sometimes the carburetor contains the blaze. Or the fire partially burns the inlet air filter — then the engine starts and snuffs it out. If you hear a backfire during the start, let the engine run a minute or two at higher than normal rpm, then shut down and inspect for damage.

TASERX2

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The electrodes are pointed to penetrate clothing and barbed to prevent removal once in place. The original TASER device probes unspool the wire from the cartridge, causing a yaw effect before the dart stabilizes,[29] which made it difficult to penetrate thick clothing. Newer versions (X26, C2) use a "shaped pulse" that increases effectiveness in the presence of barriers.[30]

At some point, we have to transition between the high-speed descent and the landing. To bleed off the speed, you might need to lower the flaps and gear, even if you're above the speed limit for doing so. Chances are the aircraft is going to undergo structural damage anyway, and slowing for the landing is your top priority. You should fasten seat belts, remove sharp objects from pockets, and complete any before-landing emergency actions such as opening doors or windows. The name of the game then is to keep flying the aircraft until it comes to a complete stop.

According to a 2011 study by the United States Department of Justice's National Institute of Justice entitled Police Use of Force, TASERs and Other Less-Lethal Weapons,[4] over 15,000 law enforcement and military agencies around the world used TASER devices as part of their use of force continuum. Just as the number of agencies deploying TASER conducted energy weapons has continued to increase each year, so too the number of TASER device related "incidents" between law enforcement officers and suspects has been on the rise.

The TASER 7 conducted energy device is a two-shot device with increased reliability over legacy products. The conductive wires spool from the dart when the TASER 7 conducted energy device is fired, instead of spooling from the TASER cartridge which increases stability while in flight and therefore increases accuracy. The spiral darts fly straighter and faster with nearly twice the kinetic energy for better connection to the target and penetration through thicker clothing.[31] The body of the dart breaks away to allow for containment at tough angles.[20] TASER 7 has a 93% increased probe spread at close range, where 85% of deployments occur, according to agency reports. Rapid arc technology with adaptive cross-connection helps enable full incapacitation even at close range.[20] TASER 7 wirelessly connects to the Axon network, allowing for easier updates and inventory management.[32]

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A TASER device may provide a safety benefit to police officers.[33] The use of a TASER device has a greater deployment range than batons, pepper spray, or empty hand techniques. This allows police to maintain a greater distance. A 2008 study of use-of-force incidents by the Calgary Police Service conducted by the Canadian Police Research Centre found that the use of the TASER device resulted in fewer injuries than the use of batons or empty hand techniques. The study found that only pepper spray was a safer intervention option.[34]

Tasers are legal for civilians to own, provided they possess a valid permit under the Customs Act.[85] Currently,[when?] police in Jamaica do not have access to tasers, but in February 2021, Corporal James Rohan, Chairman of the Police Federation, requested access to non-lethal weaponry in order to deal more effectively with encounters with mentally ill individuals.[86]

CO isn't the only problem. Burning fabrics such as wool release toxic cyanide gas, and smoldering plastic can generate hydrochloric acid, phosgene (a nerve poison), as well as blindingly thick black smoke. This can be even more dangerous if the aircraft interior has been reupholstered with non-FAA approved materials.

TASERself defense

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A Las Vegas police document says "The Drive Stun causes significant localized pain in the area touched by the TASER [CEW], but does not have a significant effect on the central nervous system. The Drive Stun does not incapacitate a subject but may assist in taking a subject into custody."[53] The UCLA Taser incident[54] and the University of Florida Taser incident[55] involved university police officers using their TASER device's "Drive Stun" capability (referred to as a "contact tase" in the University of Florida Offense Report).

The first TASER conducted energy weapon was introduced in 1993 as a less-lethal force option for police to use to subdue belligerent or fleeing suspects, who would have otherwise been subjected to more lethal force options such as firearms. As of 2010[update], according to one study, over 15,000 law enforcement and military agencies around the world used tasers as part of their use of force continuum.[4]

Police claim that the use of TASER conducted energy weapons on smaller subjects and elderly subjects is safer than alternative methods of subduing suspects, alleging that striking them or falling on them will cause much more injury than a TASER device, because the device is designed to only cause the contraction of muscles. Critics counter that TASER devices may interact with pre-existing medical complications such as medications, and may even contribute to someone's death as a result. Critics also suggest that using a Taser conducted electrical weapon on a minor, particularly a young child, is effectively cruel and abusive punishment, or unnecessary.[100][101][102][103]

Tasers are prohibited for civilian ownership in Australia in every state and territory. A weapons permit is required to purchase and own a taser.[71][72][73][74][75][76][77]

Perhaps the most common type of aircraft fire is one that erupts during engine start. A cold weather start is a perfect scenario for an engine fire, particularly if we get carried away with the primer. Excess fuel makes its way into the carburetor intake, then the engine backfires through the carburetor, igniting the fuel along with the dirty air filter.

Several characteristics of Halon make it attractive for fighting cockpit fires. Halon is a colorless gas that reacts chemically to extinguish fires. It works quickly, and at concentrations that are non-lethal to humans. Halon leaves no residue and doesn't damage sensitive electronic equipment. Halon is not as effective for fighting a deep-seated class A fire, but a quick-acting pilot can extinguish most cockpit fires using Halon.

A typical TASER device can operate with a peak voltage of 50 kilovolts (1200 Volts to the body), an electric current of 1.9 milliamps, at for example 19 100 microsecond pulses per second.[35] A supplier quotes a current of 3-4 milliamps.[36]

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The thought of being consumed by flames is horrifying, but smoke is often the real killer. Carbon monoxide (CO) is a major byproduct of a fire, and it's toxic even in minute quantities. CO combines with the hemoglobin in red blood cells, bonding strongly to the chemical sites that normally carry oxygen to the tissues.

Unfortunately, CO2 extinguishers don't work well on cockpit fires. According to the National Fire Protection Association, a 32-percent concentration of CO2 is necessary to extinguish a gasoline fire — much more than is required to extinguish an air-breathing human. The extremely cold CO2 might work nicely to make a window brittle so you can escape the cockpit, but the cold shock can damage electrical components, and the particles and condensation can severely reduce cockpit visibility.

Managing the smoke is another important part of dealing with an electrical fire. Here, too, you'll find different schools of thought. To continue breathing and to see well enough to maintain control of the aircraft, we might have to open the vents or vent window. Opening the pilot's vent window could be a mistake because it might pull the smoke right in front of the pilot, obscuring his vision.

Under the Firearm and Sword Possession Control Law, import, carrying, purchase and use of stun guns or tasers is prohibited in Japan.[87]

Some of the deaths associated with TASER devices have been blamed on excited delirium, a controversial medical diagnosis that supposedly involves extreme agitation and aggressiveness. It has typically been diagnosed postmortem in young adult black males who were physically restrained by law enforcement at the time of death. The diagnosis was supported by the American College of Emergency Physicians from 2009[57] to 2023[58][59] and the National Association of Medical Examiners until 2023.[60]

As with all less-lethal weapons, use of the TASER system is never risk-free. Sharp metal projectiles and electricity are in use, so misuse or abuse of the weapon increases the likelihood that serious injury or death may occur. In addition, the manufacturer has identified other risk factors that may increase the risks of use. Children, pregnant women, the elderly, and very thin individuals are considered at higher risk. Persons with known medical problems, such as heart disease, history of seizure, or have a pacemaker are also at greater risk. Axon also warns that repeated, extended, or continuous exposure to the weapon is not safe. Because of this, the Police Executive Research Forum says that total exposure should not exceed 15 seconds.[42]

In 2004, the parents of a 6-year-old boy in Miami sued the Miami-Dade County Police department for firing a Taser device at their child.[96] The police said the boy was threatening to injure his own leg with a shard of glass, and said that using the device was the safest option to prevent the boy from injuring himself. The boy's mother told CNN that the three officers involved probably found it easier not to reason with her child.[96] In the same county two weeks later, a 12-year-old girl skipping school and drinking alcohol was tased while she was running from police. The Miami-Dade County Police reported that the girl had started to run into traffic and that the Taser device was deployed to stop her from being hit by cars or causing an automobile accident.[96] In March 2008, an 11-year-old girl was subdued with a Taser device.[97] In March 2009, a 15-year-old boy in Michigan died from alcohol-induced excited delirium coupled with application of an electromuscular disruption device.[98][99]

The first Taser model that was offered for sale, called the TASER Public Defender, used gunpowder as its propellant, which led the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms to classify it as a firearm in 1976.[12][13]

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Some TASER device models, particularly those used by police departments, also have a "Drive Stun" capability, where the TASER device is held against the target without firing the projectiles, and is intended to cause pain without incapacitating the target. "Drive Stun" is "the process of using the EMD (Electro Muscular Disruption) weapon as a pain compliance technique. This is done by activating the TASER [device] and placing it against an individual's body. This can be done without an air cartridge in place or after an air cartridge has been deployed."[50]

If a fire burns long and hot enough before it's discovered, shutting down the engine may not extinguish the blaze, and we'd have to take the next step, which might be a rapid descent. Increasing airspeed may blow out the fire. If that doesn't work, it's important to get the aircraft onto the ground as quickly as possible, before the fire causes structural damage and airframe failure. It seems contrary to our instincts, but you must point the nose toward the ground and land at the closest survivable location.

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The TASER X2 device is a two-shot TASER CEW with a warning arc and dual lasers.[38] The warning arc is a function the officer can utilize with the push of a button to intimidate an aggressor, warn a potential assailant, and gain compliance of a suspect without having to deploy the loaded cartridges. During the warning arc mode, the TASER CEW will display an arc of electricity at the front of the device.[39]

A report from a meeting of the United Nations Committee Against Torture states that "The Committee was worried that the use of TASER X26 weapons, provoking extreme pain, constituted a form of torture, and that in certain cases it could also cause death, as shown by several reliable studies and by certain cases that had happened after practical use."[107][108] Amnesty International has also raised extensive concerns about the use of other electro-shock devices by American police and in American prisons, as they can be (and according to Amnesty International, sometimes are) used to inflict cruel pain on individuals.

Under the Firearms Act of 1925, tasers, pepper spray and stun guns are illegal to possess or purchase in Ireland, even with a valid firearms certificate.[83][84]