Legal Interpretations
Foster 2010
Summary
The Question
May an FAA aviation safety inspector keep a personal firearm in a rental car used for business travel to have access to it during off-duty time?
Background
An individual asked about FAA policy on whether an aviation safety inspector can carry a personal firearm in a rental car used for business travel.
The FAA’s Interpretation
Not without authorization. The FAA Human Resources Policy Manual bars employees from possessing privately owned firearms on FAA- or GSA-owned or leased property, including government vehicles, unless authorized in connection with official duties, regardless of state law. A rental car paid for with government funds for official business is a government vehicle. Unauthorized possession may bring discipline, including a 45-day suspension for a first offense and removal for a second.
- Requester
- Foster
- Issued
- December 6, 2010
- Subject
- Flight & Duty Time
Page 1
U.S. Department
o f Tronsportatron
Federal Aviation
Administration
DE2 - 6 20l0
Dear Mr. Foster,
Office of the Chief Counsel 800 Independence Ave., S.W.
Washington. O.C. 20591
This is in response to your request for the FAA' s policy on whether an aviation safety inspector can carry his or her personal firearm in a rental car used for business travel so as to have access to the firearm during off-duty time.
The Human Resources Policy Manual (HRPM) addresses the possession of personal firearms during business travel. The HRPM states:
No employee, while in or on F ANGSA-owned or leased property, to include Government and personal vehicles, shall carry or have in their possession, privately owned firearms or other weapons unless authorized by the FAA to do so in connection with his/her official duties, such as survival and emergency firearms in an operational area, such as the Alaskan Region. See FAA Order 1600.69(series), Facility Security Management Program, Appendix 12, for additional information. This prohibition applies regardless of any State law which may permit the carrying of firearms.
HRPM Volume 4: Employee Relations ER-4.l, para. 14 (effective July 1, 2008; updated June 11, 2010) (emphasis in original), available at https://employees.faa.gov/org/staffoffices/ahr/program policies/policy guidance/hr policies fhrpm/er/ER-4-1/.
A rental car used by an aviation safety inspector (ASD in connection with official agency business is paid for by government funds, and therefore is considered a "government vehicle.,, See FAA Travel Policy 301-10 Transportation Allowable (effective Oct. 1, 2009), available at https://employees.faa.gov/org/staffoffices/aba/travel/policy/chapter 301/ media/Rev0/o201%2 0301-10.pdf Applying the guidance of the HPRM, an ASI must have authorization to carry a privately owned firearm in a government vehicle.
Unauthorized possession of a firearm while in or on government owned or leased property may be subject to disciplinary action, including a forty-five day suspension for tbe first offense and removal for the second offense. See Human Resources Operating Instructions Table of Penalties (July 1, 2008), available at
Page 2
https://employees.faa.gov/org/staffoffices/ahr/program policies/policy guidance/hr policies /hrpm/hroi/er/tblchart.pdf.
I hope this infonnation has been helpful. This interpretation has been coordinated with the Office of the Chief Counsel, Personnel and Labor Law Division. If you have further questions concerning this interpretation, please contact Sabrina Jawed on my staff at 202- 267-8839.
Sincerely,
~i:?t;/-
Assistant Chief Counsel for Regulations, AGC-200
Snapshot retrieved August 6, 2026.