How many pilots Chew??

[Steve]

I know its more popular in the south, but I've noticed that a fair amount of pilots chew tobacco. Do most airlines have rules about using tobacco? I've read that some (Alaska?) won't hire you if you've used tobacco products in the past 6 months.

 

[Guitar Guy]

A few of my co-workers did at my last company. As discreet as they tried to be, it's still pretty disgusting to have a spit bottle up in a small cockpit. Plus, the odor isn't that wonderful either.

And you are right - some companies (airlines or other) have rules against tobacco usage. My wife worked for a company that had a limit from their insurance on how many covered employees could be tobacco users and at one point, they couldn't hire any who used because they were at the limit.

Plus, when you get that first regional job, you'll have far better things to spend your very meager income besides tobacco. Things like food and shelter spring to mind.

 

[Gulfstream 200]

chew tabbacy and spit in cups in the cockpit?

puhleeeze...

hop off your sister and kick the bald, banjo playing kid off your front porch you redneck hillbilly...

.

 

[wildbill]

Can't chew on the company A/C, but what I do off of it is mine problem. Spit cups are old fashioned anyway. Use an empty drink bottle with a screw on top. Really ticks off rental car attendants when you leave the bottle on the floor. Look no spills.
G-200, Don't have a front porch, but if you have time would you help me rotate the tires on my mobile home?

 

[AK737FO]

The High Life

Nothing like flying the mail contract through Southeast Alaska (day freight), in your blue jeans, T-shirt and cowboy boots, making $120 an hour while enjoying a good chew. Does life get any better?

 

[Diesel]

its the only thing that keeps the boredom away. i try to switch between skoal vanilla and apple to bring a nice fresh aroma to the cockpit.

 

[FL000]

Redneck crack, baby! Gotta quit, though. Anyone know some horror stories they can share to help me out. Each time I hear about someone's face falling off, I stop dipping for a week or two.

 

[Vik]

Better chew'n than smoke'n when it comes to the people around them.

 

[cxcap]

Redneck crack, baby! Gotta quit, though. Anyone know some horror stories they can share to help me out. Each time I hear about someone's face falling off, I stop dipping for a week or two.

I used to know a guy who would dip and chew at the same time. Around is 40th birthday he had do have part of his cheek removed and eventually some of his lip. A year or so later they had to take so much off that he had a hole in one of his cheeks. Whenever he takes a drink he has to lean to the side so that the liquid doesnt spill out the side of his mouth. The one thing thats kinda cool is that he can eat without even opening his mouth. He just puts the food in the permanent hole in his cheek and starts chewing. He also can shotgun a beer without a can. He just puts the glass against is cheek, turns his head to the side, and when he opens his mouth it lets air in so that the beer goes into his stomach in a matter of seconds.

 

[FL000]

I used to know a guy who would dip and chew at the same time. Around is 40th birthday he had do have part of his cheek removed and eventually some of his lip. A year or so later they had to take so much off that he had a hole in one of his cheeks. Whenever he takes a drink he has to lean to the side so that the liquid doesnt spill out the side of his mouth. The one thing thats kinda cool is that he can eat without even opening his mouth. He just puts the food in the permanent hole in his cheek and starts chewing. He also can shotgun a beer without a can. He just puts the glass against is cheek, turns his head to the side, and when he opens his mouth it lets air in so that the beer goes into his stomach in a matter of seconds.

Thanks. That will keep me clean for a while.

 

[CA1900]

Ugh. You start chewing in our "office," I start eating tuna right out of the can. Touche!

 

[FarginDooshbahg]

Yea, and I'll start bustin' some gas. I don't bust no ordinary gas, neither. I bust eye-waterin', belly-churnin', nosehair-cracklin' gas.

So you'd best keep that chew put away, if you know what's good for you.

 

[cxcap]

Thanks. That will keep me clean for a while.

Glad to help!

 

[Goose Egg]

My avatar notwithstanding, I think the habit of chewing is repulsive. I would much rather be around someone who is smoking (which still isn't saying much.)

-Goose

 

[Swede]

Dipping is the correct term. "Chew" is the stuff you see goose hunters stuffing into their cheeks like humanoid chipmunks. I can dip so that you'd never know it. Spitting is for wimps. Dip long enough and your saliva glands don't spew; you won't create a quart of spit like the dude in Kill Bill Vol II.

FL000, this link is for you, my friend. Dip away without fear. The dangers are HUGELY overblown. Combustion is what kills you.

http://www.drrodu.com/strategy.html

This M.D. is recieving flak for trying to get his smoking patients to switch to smokeless. The research is there. I quote,

"The results of our analysis reveal that the average remaining life expectancy of a 35 year old nonuser of tobacco is 45.96 years, which is 0.04 year more than that of an smokeless tobacco user. The reduction in life expectancy of a smokeless user amounts to 15 days and is in sharp contrast to a reduction of 7.8 years experienced by the smoker. Thus, the 35 year old tobacco abstainer and smokeless tobacco user will both live on average to be 80.9 years of age compared with 73.1 years of age for the smoker. Only 67% of smokers will be alive at age 70 compared with over 87% of smokeless tobacco users and nonusers of tobacco.

The negligible impact by smokeless use on life expectancy may be surprising. The facts are the risk of developing oral cancer from smokeless tobacco use is small and the disease is not uniformly fatal. In addition, smokeless tobacco is not associated with any of the other common causes of smoking-related deaths such as cardiovascular disease."

So grab yer Cope and load up, Yee Haw!

 

[GravityHater]

Yahbut, if you are the one dude that gets oral cancer, has to have part of his tongue removed or loses the lip up to the nose on one side, or some gum and teeth because of oral tobacco; the stats aren't going to mean a whole lot to you.
Want me to search for some nice internet pictures of this? It might convince you.

 

[Cutlass1287]

http://www.drkimberly.com/verrucous.jpg

 

[2Green]

Nothing like flying the mail contract through Southeast Alaska (day freight), in your blue jeans, T-shirt and cowboy boots, making $120 an hour while enjoying a good chew. Does life get any better?

No...

 

[Easyrider]

Our aircraft will not depart unless there is two tins of Skoal onboard.

That is the required minimum.

Copenhagen may be used, should an emergency occur.

 

[jackotron]

skoal mint pouches

 

[Swede]

Yahbut, if you are the one dude that gets oral cancer, has to have part of his tongue removed or loses the lip up to the nose on one side, or some gum and teeth because of oral tobacco; the stats aren't going to mean a whole lot to you.
Want me to search for some nice internet pictures of this? It might convince you.

Don't bother. Pilots tend to be statistics-driven. I can find gnarly pictures of dismembered aircraft accident victims. Won't stop anyone from flying. Statistically you are far more likely to die from a huge number of everyday issues than get oral cancer from smokeless.

True, it's a stupid but pleasurable habit. Humans pursue all sorts of risky behavior. Drinking is FAR more dangerous statistically than smokeless tobacco, and yet every fifth thread here discusses the merits of beer, with no loud shrieks of condemnation from everyone.

Pick your poison... beer, skydiving, hang gliding, scuba, surfing, riding motorcycles, dipping...

 

[Cardinal]

At least a third of our Captains do. I don't, but it doesnt bother me in the least. Someone's deodorant, cologne, or thier last stick of spearmint gum are all more noticable smells than a little dip. Every one of 'em is cool to fly with, too. If thats what it takes to ensure a relaxed CRM environment, so be it.

 

[PGH STEEL]

It's the last thing on my 10,000' checklist Put a big fat pinch of Skoal Wintergreen Long Cut In

 

[Hovernut]

Yea, and I'll start bustin' some gas. I don't bust no ordinary gas, neither. I bust eye-waterin', belly-churnin', nosehair-cracklin' gas.

So you'd best keep that chew put away, if you know what's good for you.

AMEN!

CA: "Mind if I dip?"
me: "Mind if I fart?" I mean, the ol' lean over and put directed fire on target kind! I've gotten the 'shallow depth charge' down for commuting and working up front. Really works well if you're pressin' sheepskin! Just a seep here and there and keep the vents going good and they're none the wiser. It's a bit challenging when in the back of an RJ or MegaJ (the DAL 88s with the new interior) with the leather.

Reminds me of the good old days when you could smoke on the submarine. Some weenie in Maneuvering (the engineroom control room) would light one of his clove cigarettes. With 6-hour watches, you had plenty of time to let things fester, so I could often squeeze one off on engineroom lower level and get a call on the growler a couple minutes later congratulating me. Better yet, when I was the supervisor, I could make my way into the smoking area and crop dust.

Ahh, the memories!

 

[coolyokeluke]

So that's what the stench is when you step into a sub. Makes me think the overpowering smell of fuel oil in the old diesel subs may have been a blessing in disguise.

 

[qmaster3]

AMEN!

CA: "Mind if I dip?"
me: "Mind if I fart?" I mean, the ol' lean over and put directed fire on target kind! I've gotten the 'shallow depth charge' down for commuting and working up front. Really works well if you're pressin' sheepskin! Just a seep here and there and keep the vents going good and they're none the wiser. It's a bit challenging when in the back of an RJ or MegaJ (the DAL 88s with the new interior) with the leather.

Reminds me of the good old days when you could smoke on the submarine. Some weenie in Maneuvering (the engineroom control room) would light one of his clove cigarettes. With 6-hour watches, you had plenty of time to let things fester, so I could often squeeze one off on engineroom lower level and get a call on the growler a couple minutes later congratulating me. Better yet, when I was the supervisor, I could make my way into the smoking area and crop dust.

Ahh, the memories!

Written like a true submariner. You guys on pier 3 are out there