Washington ( CNN ) -- The Department of Homeland Security on Thursday extended permission for hundreds of pilots to carry firearms -- just hours before their certification to carry the weapons was to expire , according to an organization which represents the pilots . `` A few hundred '' Federal Flight Deck Officers -- or FFDOs -- were to lose their certification to carry firearms effective midnight on New Year 's Eve , said Mike Karn , executive vice president of the Federal Flight Deck Officer Association . The loss would have come at a time of heightened concern about air security because of the attempted bombing of Northwest Flight 253 on Christmas Day . But Karn said the DHS 's Federal Air Marshal program notified him Thursday afternoon that the pilots ' certification would be extended . A Transportation Security Administration official confirmed that certifications had been extended for six months `` in light of recent events . '' The official said that `` due to an internal miscommunication , scheduled notifications to these officers were prematurely issued , '' but he offered no further explanation . FFDOs are commercial pilots who volunteer to undergo training so they can carry weapons to protect their aircraft . They undergo initial training at federal law enforcement training academies and must re-qualify with firearms every six months , and undergo a two-day recurrent training every three to five years . `` I 'm grateful [ for the extension ] because that will keep the most cost-effective last line of defense [ of aircraft ] in place , '' Karn said . `` But I 'm still concerned that such a limited budget has been approved for this program , and volunteers who want to protect the American public will be turned away . '' Karn said the budget for the program has not increased since 2003 , effectively capping the number of armed pilots . The exact number of FFDOs is classified , but government officials have said in the past the number greatly exceeds the number of federal air marshals -- plain-clothed officers who fly in the cabin of the plane to protect aircraft . Several FFDOs contacted by CNN said DHS has made getting recurrent training onerous for pilots , limiting the number and sizes of classes . Pilots also must pay for their own hotels and food during training -- `` our own time and our own dime , '' said one pilot -- placing a further burden on them . Had the loss of certification occurred , it would not have affected the pilots ' flight clearance , only their ability to carry weapons .
Federal Flight Deck Officers were to lose certification effective midnight tonight . Certifications have been extended for six months `` in light of recent events , '' official says . Officials have said there are more FFDOs than federal air marshals , number is classified . Pilot organization concerned that limited budget will deter pilots from volunteering .