pilot sentenced for being drunk

[regionalcap]

Sooooo this is why you get asked this related question during the interview process because it's preparing you for the real world... Got it!!!! Great industry!!!! What about professional standards? Could they have played an effective roll in this situation?

Professional standards is probably not going to help you in this situation. Once he operated that flight, he broke the law. The Captain became aware of this criminal act and did the correct action. A sick call AFTER you break the law is too late.

 

[Fubijaakr]

Both pilots on the NWA flight from Fargo to MSP that started all of this both got back to flying. Captain with NWA and FO with American, so don't say it CAN'T happen.

None of them went to jail.

 

[RJLoser]

None of them went to jail.

100% incorrect

 

[DeucesWild]

The Captain was still pissed that he wasn't invited to the party. The FO got BOTH flight attendants (the cute one AND the one with the nice personality)!!

 

[tomgoodman]

None of them went to jail.

The Captain went to Federal Prison for over a year. His story can be read in the book Alcoholics Anonymous (4th ed.) on page 522. This man turned his life around and has helped many others to do the same.

 

[IBNAV8R]

It's easy to play Monday-morning quarterback but I was thinking I might like to have handled it a little differently - like helping this wayward FO off the jetbridge for putting me in that @#$%ing spot!!!

 

[PBRstreetgang]

The Captain was still pissed that he wasn't invited to the party. The FO got BOTH flight attendants (the cute one AND the one with the nice personality)!!

Yeah,
And where he is going he will be the "girl"....

 

[NEDude]

Ask Joe Paterno what happens when you have information that a crime may have been committed and you don't pursue it fully.

 

[getnverted]

Too many people posting that don't know what they are talking about. As for the NW crew, read the book Flying Drunk, it's the FE's autobiography, and a good read. You will see they did spend time in the pokey. I know one guy from that crew, awesome guy, and proves the career is not over.

For those of you questioning the Captain, quit basing your opinion on a news report. When you see any other news report about aviation you jump on them for knowing nothing about our industry, why is this report different?

I was in Denver that day. I was in the concourse. The Captain found me, and one other Captain, pulled us aside and asked our opinion. By the time he found us there was nothing to be said, he had done everything he could. He did his job as a Captain and did his job as a brother of the pilot fraternity. It's easy to say, "tell the guy to call in sick." Read the transcript from the courts, he tried...and put his ass on the line for admitting that he gave the guy a chance.

Fact is the Captain did everything perfect and has been beating himself up ever since. He was put in a crap situation and handled it better than most. For anyone to second guess the Captain is pure crap. The Captain did more than he could to help, but also did what was right.

At the end of the day the truth is the FO screwed up and the Captain did the right thing. I truly feel bad the Captain was put in this position. Hopefully the FO will fix his life, I believe he has hit rock bottom, and I wish nothing but the best for him and his family.

To the FO - I support you in your recovery. Please reference the website previously posted regarding the HIMS program.

To the Capt - You did the right thing, do not feel guilty. You are a great Captain and have many reasons to hold your head high. You were put in a crap situation and handled it perfectly.

 

[N813CA]

I agree with everything that makes sense here. The hardest thing I don't understand is that they give this guy 3 months in the pin but they give a drunk driver one night in jail. That solo driver could have hit a school bus or 50+ people. Whats the the difference? At least in the aircraft there was two pilots... Again I am just saying maybe we should be this harsh to drunk drivers if that is the case.

 

[Wile]

Can't resist, where was the TSA? I am sure with all the cupping and groping, they would have smelled the "odor". I am sure heads rolled all the way up the TSA chain of command. They are keeping all of us safe, right? Sorry guys, I remember a guy who got caught at ASA by the TSA, and he faired a bit better, but either way common sense does apply.

 

[N813CA]

I have not read anything about this, BUT if the captain gave the FO a chance to call in sick and STILL operated the flight then the captain should go to prison as well. He should have never left the gate. Either call in sick or call the company.

 

[getnverted]

Guess you should read before commenting. Captain had a suspicion en-route, gave the FO a chance after they landed...

 

[dooork]

Guess you should read before commenting. Captain had a suspicion en-route, gave the FO a chance after they landed...

Maybe you should reread it. I read the CA pretended to give him a chance and then busted him anyway.

 

[Axel]

Yup. The CA is a jerk because the FO showed up drunk.

Makes perfect sense to me.

 

[getnverted]

At the end of the day I think we can all agree, CA did hid job perfectly. FO needs help and we hope he will he will get what's needed. We wish the FO luck in his recovery and commend the CA for his actions.

End of story...

 

[DeucesWild]

At the end of the day I think we can all agree, CA did hid job perfectly. FO needs help and we hope he will he will get what's needed. We wish the FO luck in his recovery and commend the CA for his actions.

End of story...

What the FO needed was a piece of gum.

 

[hockeypilot44]

The captain was put in a very bad spot. He did nothing wrong. I disagree with the 6 month jail sentence. I feel the first officer should have lost his job, had his medical suspended (not licenses) until he went through rehab, and been charged with the equivalent of a DUI. 6 months in "pound-me-in-the-ass" prison seems a little harsh.

 

[PBRstreetgang]

The captain was put in a very bad spot. He did nothing wrong. I disagree with the 6 month jail sentence. I feel the first officer should have lost his job, had his medical suspended (not licenses) until he went through rehab, and been charged with the equivalent of a DUI. 6 months in "pound-me-in-the-ass" prison seems a little harsh.

Not only are you wrong, you meet the stupid criteria. He should have gotten 10-12, and out in 5-6. Then he could have gotten all the rehab he deserved in prison, and as a convicted felon with no hope of ever getting another security sensitive job, the grill or fry cook job he learned so well in prison, on the outside.
What is harsh is he got drunk, and decided to fly a 121 airliner, that isn't like having 3 drinks and driving home from the bar, he flew a plane with paying passengers!

 

[hockeypilot44]

Not only are you wrong, you meet the stupid criteria. He should have gotten 10-12, and out in 5-6. Then he could have gotten all the rehab he deserved in prison, and as a convicted felon with no hope of ever getting another security sensitive job, the grill or fry cook job he learned so well in prison, on the outside.
What is harsh is he got drunk, and decided to fly a 121 airliner, that isn't like having 3 drinks and driving home from the bar, he flew a plane with paying passengers!

I'm under the impression he was drinking the previous night. I'm going to give him the benefit of the doubt and assume he thought he was sober. I think this punishment is pretty harsh.

 

[PBRstreetgang]

I'm under the impression he was drinking the previous night. I'm going to give him the benefit of the doubt and assume he thought he was sober. I think this punishment is pretty harsh.

Once again you illustrate your stupidity, IT DOESN'T MATTER WHEN HE WAS DRINKING, he showed up either drunk or hungover, he was under the influence, period. If he spent his days off drunk or whatever, he knew it, I dare say there is no active 121 pilot who thinks that showing up to the A/C drunk/high is OK, and even if they do, I bet every one knows what the penalty would be. "Benefit of the doubt"? You are either dumber than a box of rocks or a closet alcoholic trying to justify your own addiction. So go ahead and continue to rationalize his behavior, he got off cheap, and if all he gets is pounded in the tater by every other prisoner in his cell block, he will come to understand his "error in judgment" His tater will be rented out for a small sack of commissary and his pie hole will make a fine home for all of the predators in his cell.

 

[RJLoser]

Easy PBR. Everyone makes mistakes. This one was very serious. Not serious enough to warrant what you posted. Nothing is.

 

[Clutch]

Easy PBR. Everyone makes mistakes. This one was very serious. Not serious enough to warrant what you posted. Nothing is.

Daddy must've been an angry drunk.

 

[PBRstreetgang]

Easy PBR. Everyone makes mistakes. This one was very serious. Not serious enough to warrant what you posted. Nothing is.

Do you really think, that once in Federal Prison he is gonna be anything except the entertainment? If he is like 99% of the pilots I see on a daily basis, he will be someones girlfriend on day 1. You go to prison, you take the ride, in his case he will be the ride. The people who go to Federal prison aren't all nice old men like Bernie Madoff, most are drug smugglers and other types of miscreants, who have the game figgered out, this guy is in way over his head. Anybody who thinks showing up to the plane and flying is is like driving a car drunk should try it and see if they can get a better deal.

 

[RJLoser]

No. You are right...most likely that is what will happen. The fact you support that is my point you completely missed.

 

[Clutch]

You should change your name to Bartles&JamesStreetgang.

 

[sunlitpath]

Once again you illustrate your stupidity, IT DOESN'T MATTER WHEN HE WAS DRINKING, he showed up either drunk or hungover, he was under the influence, period. If he spent his days off drunk or whatever, he knew it, I dare say there is no active 121 pilot who thinks that showing up to the A/C drunk/high is OK, and even if they do, I bet every one knows what the penalty would be. "Benefit of the doubt"? You are either dumber than a box of rocks or a closet alcoholic trying to justify your own addiction. So go ahead and continue to rationalize his behavior, he got off cheap, and if all he gets is pounded in the tater by every other prisoner in his cell block, he will come to understand his "error in judgment" His tater will be rented out for a small sack of commissary and his pie hole will make a fine home for all of the predators in his cell.

He doesn't have to go to prison to get his tater violated; he can go to Penn State for that...

 

[PBRstreetgang]

No. You are right...most likely that is what will happen. The fact you support that is my point you completely missed.

I don't advocate anal rape in prison or Penn State, but if you fly drunk, prison should be expected, showering naked with Jerry Sandusky will most likely be painful. The US prison system is stocked with the apex predators from this society, the majority of the pilot population will not be able to match the extreme level of violence that they would encounter if placed into that situation. Does he deserve it, no, will he get it, probably, sorry this business is very unforgiving, ask anybody who was on Colgan 3407......or this guy after he gets out of prison.

 

[J.Otto]

and if all he gets is pounded in the tater by every other prisoner in his cell block, he will come to understand his "error in judgment" His tater will be rented out for a small sack of commissary and his pie hole will make a fine home for all of the predators in his cell.

Thats not how it works. Guys that have their backdoor violated are doing hard time in a diffreent type of prison.. this pilot will just lose a few months of freedom at best. maybe only serve 1/3 his sentence before getting probation.

 

[PBRstreetgang]

Thats not how it works. Guys that have their backdoor violated are doing hard time in a diffreent type of prison.. this pilot will just lose a few months of freedom at best. maybe only serve 1/3 his sentence before getting probation.

And you know how? Minimum Security means less supervision, and that means plenty of opportunity for shennagians. Face it only hardened criminals and people who being made an example of actually go to the big house, everybody else gets probation of some sort. Make no mistake, this guys anal virginity is being hung on the judges wall, for every pilot left outside the walls to take note of. Guys that have their back door violated are at the bottom of the apex predator food chain.i will bet the next guy caught flying with a snoot full of booze will get 5+ years, to make a point.
If you think that the judge doesn't know exactly what goes on behind prison walls, you are crazy, that's why he sentenced him to 6 months vs 5 years of tater stretching.