How about not doing it in the first place?
Weren't you the one that opined that everyone has show up for a flight intoxicated at some point, or driven intoxicated, or something along those lines? You assume everyone else breaks the law, do you?
You equate arriving for a flight intoxicated beyond the legal limit with driving one mile an hour over the speed limit, or think for one moment that any court or authority will see either with the same severity?
A pilot who knowingly arrives for a flight intoxicated beyond the legal limit has no right to tolerance. Who put the gun to this pilot's head? Who forced him to drink the night or morning before he knew he would take a flight? Who forced him to arrive intoxicated? Who forced him to elect to take the flight, knowing he wasn't ready or in condition to do so? Is this the fault of the "collegue" who turned him in? If the "collegue" hadn't done so, isn't it likely that someone else would have noticed?
That this man has possibly lost his career is his own doing. He is responsible. He is an adult. He is a pilot who thoroughly undertands the concept of pilot in command...of ultimate authority and ultimate responsibility. He undertook that responsibility as PIC; he embraced it, he accepted it, he made it part of his being...and he accepted paychecks to ratify tht acceptance. Then he elected to take a flight while intoxiated beyond the liberal legal limits accorded him, and has paid the price.
Don't speak of brotherly support. Don't speak of tolerance, kindness, professionalism. The pilot who elects to fly impaired has writtn his own ticket. He has destroyed the faith, destroyed the trust, and represents a black eye for everyone.
If you find yourself in sympathy with the perpetrator, you really have no need of sympathy yourself. You're cut from the same cloth.
