One for the road...er.....sky!

[Hopeful]

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090521/ap_on_...ain_drunk_pilot

 

[FA Mikey]

Pilot arrested after failing breath test minutes before he was due to take off at Heathrow

A pilot was arrested as he prepared to fly a transatlantic passenger jet while over the alcohol limit yesterday.

Captain Joseph Crites, 57, was held as he boarded the flight from London to Chicago with 204 passengers onboard. He subsequently failed a breathalyser test, it was revealed today.

Concerned security staff at Heathrow informed police that Crites smelt of drink and officers intercepted him minutes before the American Airlines flight was due to depart.
American airlines

An American Airlines Boeing 777 similar to the one Captain Crites was due to fly

American Crites had reportedly been drinking the night before.

The 10.15am flight - AA87 - was delayed while a replacement pilot was found and the Boeing 777 eventually took off at 11.30am.

full story from Britian

 

[FWAAA]

How sad. Unless a miracle happens, he may have blown a decent gig.

 

[AAStew]

Well...yes it is sad that he was so negligent or he may have a true problem and be an alcoholic. Hopefully, he has immediately told the company that he has a drinking problem (which obviously he does). Under our EAP policies he will be given a second chance once he completes treatment.

 

[FA Mikey]

But does the FAA give a second chance?

 

[AAStew]

But does the FAA give a second chance?

Yes, we had a similar incident in Brazil last year...'member Mike? I don't remember if it was a JFK guy or MIA.

 

[FA Mikey]

A flight attendant? I dont recall that one. Are you thinking of the FO in MAN? I have though in the past covered trip from an FA too sloshed to fly.

 

[AAStew]

A flight attendant? I dont recall that one. Are you thinking of the FO in MAN? I have though in the past covered trip from an FA too sloshed to fly.

No, it was a pilot. Maybe it was a JFK guy since I heard about it...apparently it did not make national news.

 

[signals]

That's why there is an auto-pilot

He almost made it, too :huh:

Good thing they don't give auto-pilots breath tests!

 

[eolesen]

Well...yes it is sad that he was so negligent or he may have a true problem and be an alcoholic. Hopefully, he has immediately told the company that he has a drinking problem (which obviously he does). Under our EAP policies he will be given a second chance once he completes treatment.

Not so sure about that one. To have "immunity" and get the second chance, it used to be that EAP had to be engaged *before* there's an incident involving substance abuse.

I know firsthand of one case EAP was invoked, and the employee got treatment at company expense. On his first day back, he was terminated for having shown up to work under the influence. Maybe things are different for pilots and flight attendants, but you'd think the rules would be a little stricter for those at the controls than they are for someone on the ground.

 

[FWAAA]

No second chance for Crites; he pleaded guilty and faces up to two years in a UK prison:

http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/top-stories/2...15875-21528687/

After the acquittal of the other AA pilot a few years ago, I'm a little surprised he pleaded guilty.

 

[The Dissident]

Unfortunately alcoholism is rampant in this industry. Some people just hide it better than others.

 

[iluvaa]

I am a booze hound like many of my co workers just dont do it before work 🙂

 

[The Dissident]

My point exactly!

 

[FWAAA]

No jail time for Crites, just a hefty fine of £1,500, with £300 costs, for a total of £1,800:

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-12...s-Heathrow.html

How sad. Just 3-8 years from retirement and now he's gone in disgrace.

My advice for alcoholics: Don't drink on layovers; just drink at home off-duty.