The British pilots' union, BALPA, has called for a special safety summit to discuss the use of armed guards on planes.
Airline pilots' organisations have been expressing increasing concern about a new requirement by the US government for armed guards to travel on some transatlantic flights.
The Director of Safety of the Irish Airline Pilots' Association, Conor Nolan, said pilots wanted assurances that the captain of an aircraft will remain in overall command of the flight.
Officials of the British union made their call during a 90-minute meeting with UK Transport Secretary Alastair Darling today as part of the union's campaign for an industry-wide deal on the use of sky marshals.
BALPA also wants a European Union summit to discuss the issue because of the growing rift between the US and European countries over the use of armed guards.
At least four European countries, Sweden, Denmark, Norway and Portugal, have made it clear they will not use armed guards, and some pilots believe they might never be used on UK aircraft either. Mr Darling made it clear today that the UK government was pressing ahead with the use of sky marshals as part of security measures.
No decision has yet been taken on the issue in Ireland.
