Date: 201808
Local time of day: 0001-0600
Location: ZZZ.Airport, US
Light: Daylight
Aircraft: EMB ERJ 145 ER/LR
Operator: Air Carrier
Operating under: Part 121
Flight plan: IFR
Mission: Passenger
Flight phase: Parked
Airspace: Class B ZZZ
Reporter organization: Air Carrier
Reporter function: Pilot Flying; Captain
Reporter qualification: Flight Crew Multiengine; Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP); Flight Crew Instrument
Human factors: Communication Breakdown
Anomaly: Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Published Material / Policy; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Security
Detector: Person Flight Crew
When detected: Aircraft In Service At Gate
Result: General None Reported / Taken
Contributing factors: Company Policy
Primary problem: Company Policy

Narrative: The first passenger to board came to the cockpit and showed me his badge and credentials. He also had a [Permitted Armed Passenger] form with the seat assignment blank. None of the flight crew had been notified of an armed passenger. I went to the gate podium and asked [the] gate agent if we were supposed to have any armed passenger on board. He told me yes; he already boarded. I asked why he didn't give us a [Permitted Armed Passenger] form with a seat assignment; or notify us of the armed passenger. [The gate agent] informed me that they don't give the flight crews notice of armed passengers; because the passenger is supposed to notify the flight crew when they board. I then talked to the GSC (Ground Security Coordinator) who informed me that was the company procedure. To do otherwise would cause a gate delay. This is a potentially dangerous situation. Especially if multiple armed passengers in the cabin are not aware of each other and their respective seat assignments. Many times the armed passengers will quickly show the [Permitted Armed Passenger] form to the FA (Flight Attendant) during boarding and not say anything at all. Because it is printed on boarding pass stock; the FA assumes they are just showing their boarding pass. If the gate agent doesn't notify the crew of the armed passenger; the flight then departs with no one in the crew being aware of the firearms in the cabin. When the company changed the [Permitted Armed Passenger form] to the current form which is printed on boarding pass stock; the impression seems to be that the agent can just give the form to the passenger along with the boarding pass. They tell me it is then the passenger's responsibility to give it to the flight crew. This is obviously not the intent of the form. This also clearly does not comply with the 'aircraft operator's' responsibility to notify the PIC and other appropriate personnel of the location of each armed passenger on the aircraft before closing the door. Suggest a training initiative for station personnel regarding procedures for notifying the flight crew of armed passengers; and the responsibilities of the various personnel involved. It seems this would be part of the GSC initial training as well. Procedures need clarification in pilot Flight Manual Part 1. Also suggest this be included in initial and recurrent security training for flight and cabin crews.




Synopsis: EMB-145 Captain reported a potential dangerous situation in company policy with the boarding process of armed passengers.