AN ACR PIC USED HIS COMMAND AUTHORITY TO ALLOW AN ARMED POSTAL EMPLOYEE TO OCCUPY THE JUMP SEAT FOR THE FLT OUT OF EWR; NY.

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PRIOR TO PAX BOARDING; I WAS ADVISED TO EXPECT A FEDERAL AGENT TRAVELING WITH HIS WEAPON ONBOARD. I HAD THE AGENT BOARDED PRIOR TO THE PAX. I CAREFULLY CHECKED HIS CREDENTIALS AND ALSO HIS DRIVER LICENSE WITH PICTURE ID. AS THIS AGENT WAS TRAVELING ALONE; WE DISCUSSED THAT SHOULD A HIJACKING OR TERRORIST INCIDENT OCCUR; HIS WEAPON COULD BECOME A LIABILITY; AS HE HAD NO ONE TO COVER HIS '6 O'CLOCK.' WE BOTH AGREED THAT THE SAFEST COURSE OF ACTION WOULD BE FOR HIM TO SIT ON A COCKPIT JUMPSEAT FOR THIS FLT. WE ALSO DISCUSSED THAT SHOULD A HIJACKING ATTEMPT OR TERRORIST INCIDENT OCCUR HE WOULD ONLY USE HIS WEAPON; INFLT IF THE COCKPIT DOOR WAS BREACHED. AFTER LNDG; AND AFTER WE DISABLED THE ACFT; WE WOULD ENTER THE CABIN AS A GROUP TO ASSIST THE FLT ATTENDANT AND PAX; AND HE WOULD USE HIS WEAPON AS NECESSARY. THEREFORE; I EXERCISED CAPT'S EMER AUTHORITY TO AUTHORIZE THE FEDERAL AGENT TO RIDE IN THE COCKPIT ON THIS FLT. FROM THE EMER CHAPTER OF THE COMPANY FLT OPS MANUAL; 'IT IS NOT INTENDED THAT AN OCCURRENCE OR CONDITION BECOME CRITICAL BEFORE THE CAPT EXERCISE EMER AUTHORITY.