I just recently received my LTCH and been trying to find the best method for me to carry. I deal with two unique environments and want some help of first where am I legal to carry in these situations and then what are your suggestions for the best method for me to carry. I know a lot of this would require real legal advice but I also know that there are a lot of knowledgeable people here that could speculate for me to get an idea
First, I am a flight instructor at an airport without a security area. Since there is no controlled area I know I am good to carry all around the airport. But the part where IN law becomes gray to me is the no carrying on commercial nor charter flights. While I'm sure the intent of the law is commercial being airlines and I know the aviation definition of charter, I can't figure out if the flights I do instructing people to fly falls under Indiana's definition of those two things. I know if I was just flying an airplane around for my own use I could carry the whole flight as long as I didn't fly to an airport that would require me to go through a controlled area after landing.
Most of the year, often I am at a educational institution part of the day that definitely falls under IC 35-47-9-2 as a NPE. I am most definitely NOT carrying there despite the risk of shootings making me not believe in this law but I'm still going to follow the law. But I have considered parking some place off property and locking the gun up in a car lockbox, while it wouldn't be on hand for what I perceive as one of the largest threats, it would still be there for the trip there, to the airport, and back home. If I were to do this locked up in the car method, my carry method would have to be easy to remove. On a side note, do colleges fall under Indiana's definition of a 'school" under IC 35-47-9-2?
My everyday dress is typically "business casual" as in dress pants, tucked in polo or button down shirt. When I settle on an IWB holster it has to be a tuckable one. Note I currently own a Makarov, CZ-82, and Glock 26 with the Glock being the planned primary carry gun.
An OWB holster is not on my list for a several of reasons with my flight instructor job. A. Besides for winter coats, I never wear a jacketand a sports coat, blazer, etc. would look out of place and would be ungodly hot in the non-air conditioned aircraft that I fly. B. Often times I am required to preflight inspect aircraft that requires me bending over, crawling under, climbing on top of the plane and that would take a cover garment as large as a tent not to get shifted and expose the gun. C. Most cover garments that would fit A and B don't fit my work dress requirements not to mention with a new baby on flight instructor wages I don't have tons of cash to buy a new wardrobe.
If a IWB is my main carry method, again it may have to be easily removable which is going to be hard with a tuckable holster. Even with a good IWB, I really think I'm going to need multiple solutions which scares me from a training standpoint. I also don't really have a clue what carry position will work well in my job as a flight instructor if I can carry in the plane. I need place that won't print much when I'm doing all the gymnastics preflighting or standing at a dry erase board instructing, but then also has to be comfortable sitting in the airplane the rest of the time. Note that my seats in the airplane are closer together than even airline coach in most cases. Luckily my strongside is away from the person I'm instructing but a crossdraw position or if I switched seats it is quite possible for them to brush against the gun and feel it is there. It's that close quarters. Honestly I don't feel tons of a need for a gun while I'm flight instructing. I am close enough that my CRKT M16 folder might do a better job than a gun if I did get a wacko that wanted to hijack or otherwise harm me or the flight (while I don't know of a history of that in light aircraft, and have had few people that I was worried about since almost anybody off the street can sign up for a intro lesson) but I'm still trying to keep up whenever possible with rule 1 of CCW, have a gun.
I'm still sure that a tuckable IWB will be a good overall option but I don't have the cash to throw around, I need to get a good medium priced ($50-$80) holster that will fit the G26 and allow for multiple cants to find the best carry position and that is available from the maker now. I've also considered just get a cheap DeSantis TuckThis holster that is under $30 at most places and does allow the cant to be adjusted so I can find my position and then buy a good quality holster for that position.
I've also been looking at non-traditional methods. The Smartcarry design is up there, as is off body carry in a small bag like the Maxpedition Thermite which looks enough like a camera bag or something like that but still have ego problems carrying around murses, even the Maxpedition Fat boy and above and fanny packs. Maybe a messenger bag/laptop case isn't uncool enough to me, but then they become too bulky IMO. Also I've been considering a pocket holster in a cargo pocket because I think I can get by with nicer cargo pants at work. The pocket holster and off body carry would allow for easy on, easy off which I know is a double edge sword but does met a niche of mine. If I do the lockbox thing for car storage while in the NPE, the CZ-82 will be the primary carry gun at that point due to it being the gun I would miss the least and hardest for criminals to find ammo and stuff for if the car and/or gun was stolen (and with my car I'm betting on if it happened it would be the latter).
What's your thoughts and suggestions?
First, I am a flight instructor at an airport without a security area. Since there is no controlled area I know I am good to carry all around the airport. But the part where IN law becomes gray to me is the no carrying on commercial nor charter flights. While I'm sure the intent of the law is commercial being airlines and I know the aviation definition of charter, I can't figure out if the flights I do instructing people to fly falls under Indiana's definition of those two things. I know if I was just flying an airplane around for my own use I could carry the whole flight as long as I didn't fly to an airport that would require me to go through a controlled area after landing.
Most of the year, often I am at a educational institution part of the day that definitely falls under IC 35-47-9-2 as a NPE. I am most definitely NOT carrying there despite the risk of shootings making me not believe in this law but I'm still going to follow the law. But I have considered parking some place off property and locking the gun up in a car lockbox, while it wouldn't be on hand for what I perceive as one of the largest threats, it would still be there for the trip there, to the airport, and back home. If I were to do this locked up in the car method, my carry method would have to be easy to remove. On a side note, do colleges fall under Indiana's definition of a 'school" under IC 35-47-9-2?
My everyday dress is typically "business casual" as in dress pants, tucked in polo or button down shirt. When I settle on an IWB holster it has to be a tuckable one. Note I currently own a Makarov, CZ-82, and Glock 26 with the Glock being the planned primary carry gun.
An OWB holster is not on my list for a several of reasons with my flight instructor job. A. Besides for winter coats, I never wear a jacketand a sports coat, blazer, etc. would look out of place and would be ungodly hot in the non-air conditioned aircraft that I fly. B. Often times I am required to preflight inspect aircraft that requires me bending over, crawling under, climbing on top of the plane and that would take a cover garment as large as a tent not to get shifted and expose the gun. C. Most cover garments that would fit A and B don't fit my work dress requirements not to mention with a new baby on flight instructor wages I don't have tons of cash to buy a new wardrobe.
If a IWB is my main carry method, again it may have to be easily removable which is going to be hard with a tuckable holster. Even with a good IWB, I really think I'm going to need multiple solutions which scares me from a training standpoint. I also don't really have a clue what carry position will work well in my job as a flight instructor if I can carry in the plane. I need place that won't print much when I'm doing all the gymnastics preflighting or standing at a dry erase board instructing, but then also has to be comfortable sitting in the airplane the rest of the time. Note that my seats in the airplane are closer together than even airline coach in most cases. Luckily my strongside is away from the person I'm instructing but a crossdraw position or if I switched seats it is quite possible for them to brush against the gun and feel it is there. It's that close quarters. Honestly I don't feel tons of a need for a gun while I'm flight instructing. I am close enough that my CRKT M16 folder might do a better job than a gun if I did get a wacko that wanted to hijack or otherwise harm me or the flight (while I don't know of a history of that in light aircraft, and have had few people that I was worried about since almost anybody off the street can sign up for a intro lesson) but I'm still trying to keep up whenever possible with rule 1 of CCW, have a gun.
I'm still sure that a tuckable IWB will be a good overall option but I don't have the cash to throw around, I need to get a good medium priced ($50-$80) holster that will fit the G26 and allow for multiple cants to find the best carry position and that is available from the maker now. I've also considered just get a cheap DeSantis TuckThis holster that is under $30 at most places and does allow the cant to be adjusted so I can find my position and then buy a good quality holster for that position.
I've also been looking at non-traditional methods. The Smartcarry design is up there, as is off body carry in a small bag like the Maxpedition Thermite which looks enough like a camera bag or something like that but still have ego problems carrying around murses, even the Maxpedition Fat boy and above and fanny packs. Maybe a messenger bag/laptop case isn't uncool enough to me, but then they become too bulky IMO. Also I've been considering a pocket holster in a cargo pocket because I think I can get by with nicer cargo pants at work. The pocket holster and off body carry would allow for easy on, easy off which I know is a double edge sword but does met a niche of mine. If I do the lockbox thing for car storage while in the NPE, the CZ-82 will be the primary carry gun at that point due to it being the gun I would miss the least and hardest for criminals to find ammo and stuff for if the car and/or gun was stolen (and with my car I'm betting on if it happened it would be the latter).
What's your thoughts and suggestions?
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