CHKED BAGGAGE PROCS.

Narrative

APPROX 20 MINS PRIOR TO SCHEDULED PUSHBACK TIME; THE COMPANY RDU STATION MANAGER APCHED US WITH A PROB WITH A LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICER WHO'S CHKED BAGGAGE DID NOT MEET THE STANDARD (LOCKABLE; HARD CASE) FOR CARRIAGE OF HIS WEAPON AS CHKED BAGGAGE. HE ASKED IF WE COULD CARRY THE BAG (WITH HIS UNLOADED WEAPON) ON THE FLT DECK. I SAID THAT I PREFER NOT TO; AND THAT IT REMAIN IN THE ACFT CARGO BIN. THE STATION MGR EXPLAINED SIT ABOUT THE IMPROPER BAG AND THAT IT WAS NOT LEGAL TO RIDE IN THE CARGO COMPARTMENT. HE THEN BROUGHT THE FEDERAL REPRESENTATIVE WHO ALONG WITH THE STATION MGR ADVISED ME THAT IT WAS LEGAL AND 'OK' FOR BAG WITH UNLOADED WEAPON TO RIDE IN THE FLT DECK. I WAS STILL SKEPTICAL SO I TRIED TO FIND SOMETHING IN THE FLT OP MANUAL TO CONFIRM ONE-WAY OR ANOTHER IF IT WAS LEGAL. I WAS NOT ABLE TO SO I PLACED A CALL TO THE CHIEF PLT'S OFFICE BUT MY CALL WAS SWITCHED BACK TO THE MAIN SWITCHBOARD. I ALSO MADE AN ATTEMPT THROUGH OUR COMPANY RADIO SYSTEM; BUT IT ALSO DID NOT WORK. AS PUSH TIME WAS FAST APCHING; I DISCUSSED THE MATTER WITH MY FO AND WE ARRIVED AT THE CONCLUSION THAT AS LONG AS WE HAD NOTHING TO DO WITH THE BAG; IT WOULD BE OK. THE BAG RODE IN THE FLT DECK WITH US; BUT WAS NEVER TOUCHED BY A CREW MEMBER. SOME OF THE THINGS THAT LED US INTO; IN HINDSIGHT; WAS NOT THE BEST DECISION WERE: COMPANY PRESSURE FOR 'ON TIME' PERFORMANCE; PRESSURE FROM THE STATION MGR AND A PERSONNEL; INABILITY TO COM WITH SUPVR'S IN A TIMELY FASHION; AND A POORLY WORDED FLT OPS MANUAL.