Comments on: Pilots and Alcohol

By: Alan Doak

Alan Doak — Tue, 08 Oct 2019 20:06:24 +0000

It leaves me wondering whether a minor case of Auto-brewery Syndrome (production in the gut of detectable levels of ethanol) is a professional hazard for airline pilots.

By: Martin

Martin — Sat, 24 Aug 2019 07:18:05 +0000

You are doubtless right, Patrick, that carriers in the US and western Europe run a tight ship regarding alcohol, and that most pilots for those airlines are also firm adherents to the guidelines. My worry, though, is when I fly in Russia. I have heard first-hand accounts of rounds of vodka in the cockpit, which is in keeping with all I’ve seen in the country of love of the national spirit. Walk into a Russian grocery store and you will see literally a wall of vodka – why should a pilot be less of a man about choosing a bottle from this wall? While I have no information about whether any Russian planes have ever crashed due to pilot drunkenness, I am always anxious when I get on a plane in Siberia at 5am, often with fellow passengers who have whiled away their night in the hotel bar, that the people flying the plane have done the same.

By: John Wodarz

John Wodarz — Fri, 23 Aug 2019 01:05:02 +0000

Patrick,Patrick,

Thank you for addressing the problem. I agree with you. All industries and all walks of life have drug & alcohol issues.

I totally understand.

Could it be that traveling, always somewhere else makes individuals make decisions they wouldn’t do at home?

Heck, most of the traveling public would never consider having a donut or a double margarita at 7am or whatever hour if they were at home. it’s a psychological thing.

Truck drivers to rock stars to airline industry folks. you name it.

It’s tough.

I have full faith in everyone in the airline industry. Statistics show we are more likely to buy it an an Ubur accident from the trip from any airport.

The skies are safe.

Thank you for listening.

Regards,
John Wodarz

By: Lee Taplinger

Lee Taplinger — Thu, 22 Aug 2019 22:06:32 +0000

Just to put things in perspective, setting a BAL at a miniscule level may actually be counter-productive. I had a racquetball instructor who competed successfully at a high level who would drink a “pony” bottle of beer before a match. He said a small amount of alcohol relaxed him just enough to increase his skill level. I have found the same to be true when motorcycling on two-lane mountain blacktops – the key to skillful motorcycling is to stay relaxed, the looser your grip the better, a tight grip leads to problems in cornering. People will often give their worst performance when they’re hung over and unfortunately there’s no test for that – they could have 0 BAL and a throbbing headache.

By: LEE TAPLINGER

LEE TAPLINGER — Thu, 22 Aug 2019 21:27:30 +0000

In reply to David. Yes you're correct but I still have one response to grammar Nazis: No soup for you!

By: Ronald W Buckley

Ronald W Buckley — Mon, 19 Aug 2019 20:10:57 +0000

Doesn’t altitude effect alcohol in the blood stream in a negative way. Or does a pressurized cabin take care of that?

By: Jim Houghton

Jim Houghton — Mon, 19 Aug 2019 17:23:08 +0000

I’m not worried because of redundancy, but when BOTH pilots turn up over the limit, that starts to move into the scary zone.

By: Tom Z

Tom Z — Mon, 19 Aug 2019 14:04:17 +0000

In the early 1980’s I attended the first nationwide HIMS seminar in Denver. Every Airline from Bar Harbor to Pan Am and all in between sent representatives. The various Unions sent reps. as well as some AME’s.The Chief Flight Surgeon, Audie Davis opened the week long seminar with the statement that if 10% of the population were alcoholics then airline pilots were no different. The FAA, Airlines and Unions set the goal of saving pilot’s careers and health! The HIMS program is one of the most successful in saving lives and careers!
I’m proud to have been just a very small part of it!
Airline Pilot Retired

By: Kevin B

Kevin B — Mon, 19 Aug 2019 13:46:29 +0000

I’m all for the voluntary help programs – we’ve come a long way since my father flew dc3’s for Eastern Sirlines after WW2- he flew with a captain who had a flask and later as a senior co pilot was assigned captains who were know to imbibe-back in the 40’s flying was not for sissy’s and senior pilots trained in the 30’s – pilots had to pay a big premium if they were given life insurance at all and were paid a big premium for flying over water.

Yes, we’ve come a long way and hopefully the success of the program can be brought to other public safety jobs

By: Tom Ritchford

Tom Ritchford — Mon, 19 Aug 2019 13:11:32 +0000

Just wanted to say that I found the Lyle Prouse story extremely moving…