Co-pilot arrested on alcohol charges
- Thread starter Hatu
- Start date
hp_fa
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- Feb 19, 2004
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"Prosecutors have charged Carl Fulton, 41, with one count of operation of a common carrier under the influence of alcohol or drugs. The charge carries a maximum penalty of 15 years in prison and up to $250,000 in fines."
It doesn't mention FAR's. Rather it refers to a statute. (The statute is here.)
Dont call me Shirley
Veteran
- Aug 20, 2002
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Quite a deal!! Wish I could get one like it
All things being equal, I don't anything wrong with it. As long as people stick to "bottle to throttle" rulew and use some coomon sense. If someone is going to break the rules, I don't see how saving a few bucks is going make a difference.
Actually it doesn't apply to all carriers. WN negoitates with hotels to have $1.00 draft, $2.00 wine, and $3.00 Mixed drinks. The bar tender won't give the same discounts to other airlines. Most will get a little ticket along with there key which states, airline crews receive a 20% discount, EXCLUDING alcohol.
Some WN crews that I had talked to stated that it is frustrating to some of their pilots because they are having to travel further and further from the airport hotels to find ones who will give them the alcohol discount. That 40 minute van ride coupled with the 9 and a half hour layover doesn't give you much time to pound them down. Seem one pilot pushed the 8 hour rule a little to far. Thanks to the TSA we have one less idiot to worry about in the sky.
A couple random thoughts.
It's Time for captains to become Captains and first officers to become first OFFICERS. If the F/O shows up smelling of hooch, insist that he call in sick. If the Captain shows up smelling of booze tell him to call in sick, OR REFUSE to FLY. One of these instances is worse PR than 50 late departures or cancellations. The TSA is a bunch of losers with too much power. I warned people about this. Many in ALPA wanted the "Government" to handle security (read government union employees). My read was and still is that we'd get the same losers but this time we give them power and a badge. They haven't caught ONE terrorist yet, but they sure are doing a number on pilots. Now I've heard that Fed Ex pilots are getting inspected 100% of the time at the secondary screening point because they are on one way tickets. Ironically, some of these guys are packing weapons as part of the FFDO program.
If I were this guys lawyer, I'd be negotiating a deal with SWA. It's a tough sell to show a company with a wild turkey swilling CEO who requires his layover hotels offer cheap booze as anything but encouraging drinking on layovers.
The company would be wise to allow a certain number of "no harm no foul" calls for making the mistake of getting a little out of control on a layover. You should be allowed a call a year. any more, and they should recommend EAP. But the whole purpose of alchohol is to impair judgement (at least of the F/A's), so it is easy to see someone unintentionally getting hammered (ie intending to have a couple, but the waitress was hot and kept bringing Pitchers....). You've got to give the crewmembers an out other than taking the risk of strapping on a jet and trying to make it home.
Does UAL have the same problem? Nah, I haven't seen too many airport Motel 6's with bars. We do get hot Soda's from the machine for $1.50 though....
Be careful out there and watch each others back. You wouldn't let your buddy drive home drunk, why would you let him fly even slightly snookered, at the risk of his livelyhood (not to mention prison)?
It's Time for captains to become Captains and first officers to become first OFFICERS. If the F/O shows up smelling of hooch, insist that he call in sick. If the Captain shows up smelling of booze tell him to call in sick, OR REFUSE to FLY. One of these instances is worse PR than 50 late departures or cancellations. The TSA is a bunch of losers with too much power. I warned people about this. Many in ALPA wanted the "Government" to handle security (read government union employees). My read was and still is that we'd get the same losers but this time we give them power and a badge. They haven't caught ONE terrorist yet, but they sure are doing a number on pilots. Now I've heard that Fed Ex pilots are getting inspected 100% of the time at the secondary screening point because they are on one way tickets. Ironically, some of these guys are packing weapons as part of the FFDO program.
If I were this guys lawyer, I'd be negotiating a deal with SWA. It's a tough sell to show a company with a wild turkey swilling CEO who requires his layover hotels offer cheap booze as anything but encouraging drinking on layovers.
The company would be wise to allow a certain number of "no harm no foul" calls for making the mistake of getting a little out of control on a layover. You should be allowed a call a year. any more, and they should recommend EAP. But the whole purpose of alchohol is to impair judgement (at least of the F/A's), so it is easy to see someone unintentionally getting hammered (ie intending to have a couple, but the waitress was hot and kept bringing Pitchers....). You've got to give the crewmembers an out other than taking the risk of strapping on a jet and trying to make it home.
Does UAL have the same problem? Nah, I haven't seen too many airport Motel 6's with bars. We do get hot Soda's from the machine for $1.50 though....
Be careful out there and watch each others back. You wouldn't let your buddy drive home drunk, why would you let him fly even slightly snookered, at the risk of his livelyhood (not to mention prison)?
On the SWAPA forum there was a Capt from another crew that rode in on the van with the F/O who was arrested. He said that he didn't smell any alcohol on his breath, nor did he see any signs of intoxication.
As for SWA having a "no harm no foul" program they do. If ANY employee at SWA believes that they have a problem with alcohol they can take advantage of this program. Of course even though the program is there you can't force a person to use it. I'm surprised that other airlines don't have such a program available to there employees.
QA4Jet-A
Veteran
Most do, it's called an EAP !
Excellent post Drvr
hp_fa
Veteran
- Feb 19, 2004
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I agree that it was a great post.
A few years ago a HP captain believed that one of the FA's was reporting for a flight to PHX intoxicated. The captain tried, two or three times, to convince this person to call in sick or else he would take action. The FA refused. The captain took action, the flight was cancelled and the FA was reported to the company as the reason for the cancellation.
The captain absolutely did the right thing and tried to keep from having to take the ultimate action. But he did it after trying to convince the FA that a sick call would have been far easier for all concerned.
A few years ago a HP captain believed that one of the FA's was reporting for a flight to PHX intoxicated. The captain tried, two or three times, to convince this person to call in sick or else he would take action. The FA refused. The captain took action, the flight was cancelled and the FA was reported to the company as the reason for the cancellation.
The captain absolutely did the right thing and tried to keep from having to take the ultimate action. But he did it after trying to convince the FA that a sick call would have been far easier for all concerned.
whaledriver
Advanced
- Jan 20, 2003
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LOL, Why can it not be true??? Is this the very first SWA pilot that has ever had a drink before a flight?
Yes! :blink:
wnbubbleboy
Veteran
Feds won't prosecute Southwest Airlines pilot
SALT LAKE CITY Federal prosecutors are dropping a criminal charge against a Southwest Airlines co-pilot who was removed from a plane in July after a security screener smelled alcohol.
A document filed in federal court in Salt Lake City says the case is being dismissed "in the interest of justice."
A spokeswoman for federal prosecutors says there wasn't enough evidence against 41-year-old Carl Fulton of Fort Worth, Texas.
Fulton had been charged with operating a common carrier under the influence of alcohol or drugs.
http://www.kold.com/Global/story.asp?S=5533316
http://www.dfw.com/mld/dfw/news/state/15743923.htm
SALT LAKE CITY Federal prosecutors are dropping a criminal charge against a Southwest Airlines co-pilot who was removed from a plane in July after a security screener smelled alcohol.
A document filed in federal court in Salt Lake City says the case is being dismissed "in the interest of justice."
A spokeswoman for federal prosecutors says there wasn't enough evidence against 41-year-old Carl Fulton of Fort Worth, Texas.
Fulton had been charged with operating a common carrier under the influence of alcohol or drugs.
http://www.kold.com/Global/story.asp?S=5533316
http://www.dfw.com/mld/dfw/news/state/15743923.htm
Bagbelt
Senior
- Apr 3, 2004
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