Jumpseating after drinking.

[ASA_Aviator]

I would have turned him in. People need to know the rules before they play the game. Inexperience is not an excuse.

I hate it when people are so quick to turn each other in. Couldn't more could be gained by having a "father-son" chat.

 

[Hugh Jorgan]

Never mix drinking and jumpseating...EVER!

i was on an air canada flight once and the lead FA came back to my seat and said "the captain wants to buy you a drink."

what do you do? discuss....

If it's SYD-HNL, politely decline and when the large glass of Bailey's arrives anyway. Say "Oh no, I couldn't, but thanks."

Turns out she spills it and it all falls down your gullet anyway....:0

 

[30West]

Even better, a good old father and son "exit the aircraft and come back when your'e sober".

Start letting this crap slide, then what's next? You are, by definition, an extra crewmember.
Would you show up to fly like that?

Wouldn't the professional and responsible thing to do be to plan ahead on not being sauced when jumpseating, therefore avoiding the situation to begin with?
What if a pax or F/A smells alcohol on the guy and blows the whistle to the gate? Now we all go for testing and as the captain I now have to answer for why there was a drunk in my cockpit.

Sorry, simply not worth it. Try a later flight.

 

[wacoflyr]

Agreed. The rules are clear. The public's opinion is clear. If you jumpseat and drink, you are setting yourself up to lose your job and career. It is just that simple. If I were that captain, I would have told the kid not to set foot on my aircraft, ever again.

Regards, Wacoflyr

 

[sqwkvfr]

i was on an air canada flight once and the lead FA came back to my seat and said "the captain wants to buy you a drink."

what do you do? discuss....

"That's terrific, thanks...I'd like a Diet Coke, please."

 

[siucavflight]

I would have turned him in. People need to know the rules before they play the game. Inexperience is not an excuse.

Not the right thing to do, at least I dont think so. Some are way to quick to eat their own in this industry.

 

[Starscream]

Argh. It doesn't matter where you sit -- if you're jumpseating, you're an additional crewmember, and you need to be sober for it. Riding in the back doesn't change the rules, even if the FA offers you a drink.

Ok playing devils advocate here. That statement is only a partial truth. Regardless of what everone here thinks is "right" the FARs are pretty clear on this and do not prohibit drinking in the cabin. They specifically state that you may not have consumed 8 hours prior or be above .04 BAC prior to REPORTING FOR DUTY OR SERVING AS A REQUIRED CREWMEMBER. Jumpseating IS NOT DUTY. When jumpseating, you are not bound by duty time/rest limits because you are not on duty. Furthermore, if you're a non-CASS airline or on an international flight, you're not even allowed into the flight deck at all.

On the other hand, the FARs prohibit alcohol on the FLIGHT DECK and say that no person shall be admitted to the flight deck following the consumption of alcohol. The FARs make no mention of an off-line jumpseater being prohibited from drinking in the cabin. You guys might think it's wrong, but it is certainly not illegal.

Now in practice, what this guy in the above scenario did was not bright because he drank before trying to jumpseat and then had to sit in the cockpit because the cabin was full. Yes, what he did here was technically an FAR violation because he was on the flight deck following alcohol consumption.

Actually, our manual allows us to drink while non-reving in the cabin of our flights (and mainline) and indicates that drinking shall be done "in moderation."

 

[ASA_Aviator]

Even better, a good old father and son "exit the aircraft and come back when your'e sober".

Start letting this crap slide, then what's next? You are, by definition, an extra crewmember.
Would you show up to fly like that?

Wouldn't the professional and responsible thing to do be to plan ahead on not being sauced when jumpseating, therefore avoiding the situation to begin with?
What if a pax or F/A smells alcohol on the guy and blows the whistle to the gate? Now we all go for testing and as the captain I now have to answer for why there was a drunk in my cockpit.

Sorry, simply not worth it. Try a later flight.

Hey, I wasn't saying that you should let him on your plane, just that you shouldn't call the cops, or his chief pilot. I don't know. I'm just not for turing people in.

 

[John Pennekamp]

I would have turned him in. People need to know the rules before they play the game. Inexperience is not an excuse.

I assume you mean turn him in to Pro Standards, or the union jumpseat committee, not the company? At least that's what I hope.

 

[DeltaLima21]

Yes, turning him in to Pro Standards would be the right thing to do.

 

[30West]

Hey, I wasn't saying that you should let him on your plane, just that you shouldn't call the cops, or his chief pilot. I don't know. I'm just not for turing people in.

No, wasn't advocating going to the company.
Would definitely give him an earful, then send him packing.
If he was in uniform, I would strongly advise him to remove his epaulets and ID once got back to the top of the jetway until he was sober.

This is sort of along the lines of the old interview question "Your Captain shows up drunk for work, what would you do?"

Bottom line is the same, try to handle it before getting the company involved as an absolute last resort. But only outcome is that the flight doesn't leave with an intoxicated individual sitting in the cockpit.

 

[Flybywire44]

Just wondering what your thoughts would be on this. I was flying last week and a younger regional FO stuck his head in the cockpit after boarding and asked if we minded him riding in the jumpseat from MIA to IND. This is a long flight in the ERJs jumpseat. The Captain said no problem. Kid straps in, and once we get to cruise I can smell alcohol on this guy, and I know the Captain can as well. After about an hour my Captain said to the young man "I know you are new to the airlines and I am not going to get you in trouble but for the future just so you know the same rules for drinking apply to you as an ACM as it does to the both of us, keep it in mind."
This kid looks at him and says "Oh I know I thought that I was going to get a seat in the back, and instead they stuck me up here."
Nothing was said other then that, and my Captain was a nice guy and let it slide, but he was pissed afterwards. I can understand a mistake, but this guy knew the rules and intentionally broke them.
Just thought I would share with you.

I hope all you captains out there read this... Nothing is worse than a pilot throwing a new one under the kid under the bus.

Hats off to your Captain.

 

[ThisistheDream]

10 years ago I was jumpseating on America West to LAS with some other pilot buddies. We where all jumpseating, but sitting in 1st class. While in cruise the FA asked if we wanted a free beer. Not knowing if we could she asked the Captain and he said you can drink all day, your not in the cockpit and not a required crewmember. In that scenario i dont think its a problem, but common sense to me says dont drink while jumpseating. I would just enjoy the free ride and if you want to drink fly online or get a pass and try to get 1st class.

 

[siucavflight]

Yes, turning him in to Pro Standards would be the right thing to do.

I am not sure what turning him into pro standards would do, the new FO was a member of an airline that is not an ALPA participant.

 

[Rez O. Lewshun]

Wow... I am surprised the cool pilots haven't called out the Captian for even asking the kid about drinking...calling it unprofessional of the captain to ask...

The TSA would love to take away jumpseating... cockpit or cabin... to screw it up for everyone just cause you want to play Jonny Cochran and read the regs and mindtrick yourself that you can drink in the cabin... it is not worth it....