Alcohol banned while on company time...

[Typhoon1244]

We don't need anymore drunk pilots flying airplanes!

I agree, but...my god, man, you make it sound like the sky is full of drunk pilots. I hate to sound like I'm defending these losers, but we're talking about four incidents in a fifteen-month period...and none of them were "falling down" drunk.

NTSB records show that drinking is a much bigger problem in the cockpits of (1) locomotives and (2) tractor-trailers. Those incidents usually don't get reported because trucks and trains aren't as sexy as trans-continental airliners. I don't want to see any more pilot-related incidents either, but let's keep some perspective, shall we? You're a thousand times more likely to get hurt by a drunk truck driver or engineer than a drunk airline pilot.

Now, having said all that, I'm sorry but I've got to say I'd support a No-Drinking-On-Layovers policy. If you're a recreational drinker who can go a couple days without a drink, why do you care? And if you can't go a couple of days without a drink, guess what? You have an alcohol problem. Don't argue with me. If you can't handle being without alcohol for, say, forty-eight hours, something's wrong.

Somebody spoke of how nice it is to be able to unwind with a cold beer at the end of the day. I've tried a few beers in my time, and I fail to see why a Sprite or a lemonade or even just a glass of ice water aren't just as refreshing. If you need that alcohol to be refreshed, again, something's wrong.

I know a lot of people are up in arms about the company telling them what they can or can't do while off duty. I agree, but I think this alcohol thing is a unique situation. I know it won't stop a hard-core alcoholic, but it might keep some other people out of trouble.

One more thing: if you allow your fellow pilot to go to work with too much alcohol is his or her system, you're just as guilty as they are. If you catch the problem in the hotel lobby, in the van, or at the gate, don't let them get any closer to the cockpit! How you handle it is up to you. If you decide they're sick and need to go back to the hotel, fine. If you convince them to admit they have a problem and seek help, fine. If you immediately turn them in to the chief pilot...well, you've got more nerve than I do but, fine.

 

[ifly4food]

Typhoon,

While I don't disagree with your statements, the reason I am opposed to any restrictions on what we do during a layover is that it sets a dangerous precedent.

Sure, any reasonable person can go several days without a drink. However, what happens when banning alcohol is so successful that the company decides to ban leaving the hotel because a few crews got in trouble or dutied in late? See what I'm geting at?

You and I both work for a company that would LOVE to know our whereabouts at all times. Imagine the delight SS would have with that. We would be "extended" and junior manned every day. No thanks.

 

[Saabslime]

There are those who will abuse any policy put into place to try and deal with this. I would say they are the extreme minority. Give the rest of us the discretion and respect we deserve as adults and professionals. We don't need a "policy" that treats us as a bunch of gradeschool children who don't have the foresight to know the consequences of our actions.

 

[justApilot]

Typhoon said........... If you immediately turn them in to the chief pilot...well, you've got more nerve than I do but, fine


For those of you that find yourself in this position please consider your Professional Standards as your first phone call. If your first call is to management well, the poor boy doesn't stand a chance.

 

[justApilot]

Typhoon said....
\Somebody spoke of how nice it is to be able to unwind with a cold beer at the end of the day. I've tried a few beers in my time, and I fail to see why a Sprite or a lemonade or even just a glass of ice water aren't just as refreshing. If you need that alcohol to be refreshed, again, something's wrong.
----------

I said that. Hey if you enjoy a cold Sprite, then have at it. I like to enjoy a drink or 2 with my buds after a day of flying thats it. I don't need the alcohol, that just happens to be my drink of choice. You have your sprite, lemonade, water or whatever it is you enjoy and I will have my beer. Take a look at any profession, I don't care what it is but they all have their share of problem children. Humor us again...what is wrong with me?

 

[Hopeless_in_GA]

...

 

[Typhoon1244]

Originally posted by justApilot
Humor us again...what is wrong with me?

Nothing, as far as I can tell. The question is, can you function without alcohol for forty-eight to seventy-two hours? If the answer is "no," then you have an alcohol problem. I suspect you don't.

My point was that even if the company does manage to enforce a no-booze-on-our-time policy, a normal pilot (i.e. one who is not addicted to alcohol) won't have a problem with it.

Having said that, I'm starting to agree with ifly4food regarding the possible slippery slope. Maybe it's better to leave the situation alone and let the problem children weed themselves out.

 

[justApilot]

Typhoon...I believe you are right this problem will solve itself in the end.

 

[sf3boy]

My thoughts......

If I am on company time while I am supposed to be on rest, then I better be getting paid my hourly rate while I am doing whatever I am doing on the overnight. I am sure that all the business travelers are on company time while they are in the World Clubs, President Lounges, etc...in the terminals getting smashed on vodla tonics then boarding OUR planes and causing unsafe static for the cabin and flight crews.

DeltaCrownFlyer doesn't want anymore drunk aircrews. I agree. However, there were more drunks driving down my street last night at 10 pm then there have been drunk airline pilots in the last 2 years. Hope none of the people that think pilots can't enjoy a beer in the hotel have never done that.

 

[freightdogfred]

I concur.





I know some of you guys like to get blasted at the hotel bars. Can you not wait until your home? I mean come on, you only work what 10 days a month?


Well, if this is true, the company owes me some days off...............