Hmmmm. Haven't heard anything from Rez in a few days.
Don't suppose it was him?
FJ
It was me! Just got out of the detox tank! There are some real shady people in there. Made me feel good to know that I wasn't as bad as them, despite the fact that we were all in the 'tank' together.......
Know what I mean?
This event is nothing new... every airline has had its colorful alcohol events. This one is average....
Don't take this as justification... just understanding. Dare I say empathy? Three factors that play here:
Pilots have a limited time to drink. On a 14 hour overnight the crew has to get to the hotel, change clothes, and get down to the bar....quick... to have a couple of drinks... it promotes binge drinking..
For some.. the mindset of being the formatted professional all day warrants loosening up while off duty. "I've played by the rules all day, now its time to unwind"
The social pressure with a crew to have a drink and enjoy the "airline lifestlye" can pressure some to indulge too much...
A great story and understanding of pilots and alcohol....
google
lyle prouse
His story is incredible... major screw up, incarceration, atonement, redemption, second chance and Presidential pardon.
When Prouse was released from prison his fellow pilots were there and supported him. Does the avg. pilot have the character to meet his/her fellow pilot at prison when released?
How are we going to treat our fellow pilots who make a mistake? Are we going to support them or scoff at them and tell ourselves we are just a bit better than them...
If pilots who screws up are not defended
properly then we set the precedence of improper defense. Corporate America [read airlines, our employers] are not interested in 'truth, justice and the American Way'. They are interested in limiting their liability and cost. In addition, they do not care if their liability is alcohol related as in this case, or any other reason.
So if the precedence is set of improper defense when you are called onto the carpet the methodologies for your discipline or termination might be set due to our partially indifferent support for a fellow pilot we have deemed him....unworthy.
Don't view "stupid" pilots as deserving to get fired and they should have never been hired in the first place combined with 'that would never happen to me'.
View stupid pilots as a buffer zone to our mediocrity (me) or greatness (you). For if the company rids themselves of the stupid guys.. eventually they will get to you and me.