SWA f/o arrested for intoxication

[Blucher]

"no bail"

http://www.sltrib.com/ci_4032001

so he has been sitting in jail since the arrest....

kinda BS if you ask me

From what I understand that's fairly standard if you are locked up on a Sunday. Gotta wait until Monday morning for the judge to come to work and preside over your arraignment. Longer, if it's a holiday weekend.

-Blucher

 

[canyonblue]

Federal Aviation Administration screening technicians

So that is their "official" title? I once dated a Nail "Technician".

 

[Skybus]

Gorilla

I was right there with you at first.....then you kind of lost me. The bottom line is just DON"T DO IT!! Pretty simple actually. If there is no doubt then there is no reason NOT to be cordial to a fellow human being trying to do their job and who knows maybe get a little atta boy while at it.

 

[satpak77]

From what I understand that's fairly standard if you are locked up on a Sunday. Gotta wait until Monday morning for the judge to come to work and preside over your arraignment. Longer, if it's a holiday weekend.

-Blucher

you are right. It is 7 AM and my brain is still waking up. Saw the article and immediately got mad over it.

 

[jetflier]

"no bail"

http://www.sltrib.com/ci_4032001

so he has been sitting in jail since the arrest....

kinda BS if you ask me

Hi folks,

Just thought I'd chime in.

If this fellow pilot is not found guilty, and was not illegally intoxicated,.....I hope that he sues the sh#t out of the media, TSA and any other venue that tried to sensationalize this situation.

Maybe that would put an end to the specticle made out of these situations.

Even if he's guilty,... how many doctors, surgeons, lawmakers and others inflicted with the disease of alcholism are dragged through the media.

Its just not right.

 

[FlyBarneyJets]

I have a couple of problems with the "process" by which many of our brethren are being snagged (in addition to having a problem with some of our brethren who are showing up to work snookered).

If the TSA bloodhounds smell something they don't like, they should take the guy aside right then and there. They shouldn't be allowed to wait until he "boards an aircraft." The way they do it now...tailing the pilot to see what he's gonna do and snagging him when he turns left at the bottom of the jetbridge...is utter crap.

And I think Gorilla is spot-on. The TSA never gets anything but a tight-lipped smile from me, if that. And I'm not even a drinker, so I've got even LESS to worry about! Its getting to the point now that these vigilante sons-of-beeeyatches are more of a danger to our jobs than checkrides and physicals.

We're all crewmembers. The guys we fly with are most-often not just coworkers but friends. I know it sounds cheesy as heck, but let's start being each-other's wing-men when it comes to crap like this!! Have the balls to pull your coworkers to the side and TELL them they're stinkin'!!

 

[Hugh Jorgan]

there is no reason NOT to be cordial to a fellow human being trying to do their job and who knows maybe get a little atta boy while at it.

I'm guessing you don't pass through many different TSA checkpoints? This is not about somebody just "trying to do their job". Most have a clear agenda toward pilots. They are not required to screen my breath and I am not required to be "cordial" to someone who in many cases is faking their congeniality in hopes to get a sniff of my gullet. I'm not buying a paper from the guy at the corner newstand here, I'm passing through their tiny little piece of authority and most never let you forget it. I'd say my smile and a nod is good enough to pass for being "cordial" regardless of whether I had a beer with dinner or not the previous night.

 

['LUVIN LIFE]

Barney,

Yep, I agree, they should just take him aside out of public view. No reason to track him to the airplane. Figure out what's going on immediately.

Is TSA a pain? Sure. But do you think it's worth a couple of false alarms to find somebody who really is drunk? You betcha. I would rather TSA not be afraid to question somebody then to just let everyone through because they're wearing a badge. I KNOW that after reading this news report everyone will think twice before having that late night drink vice if this guy hadn't got caught, or if TSA were not Nazis. It is, after all, about public safety.

Lowcure is right (did I just say that?). IF the guy is guilty then get him some help because he needs it if he made this kind of decision. We've all been stupid, but come on. I would hope we at least grow out of the peer pressure mindset of needing to drink past our limits, especially when we have a family to think about.

Be safe and party smart!

 

[Tejas-Jet]

DON'T drink before flying (duh). Don't even slightly push it. And DON'T chat with the TSA. They are trained, and told to look for, intoxicated pilots.

I chat with the TSA guys all the time. Of course, I'm never hung over....or even slightily intoxicated. And thats because I always stick to my 12-13 beer limit on layovers.

Tejas

 

[Bavarian Chef]

I heard the TSA "nail technicians" get a bonus if they snag a drunk pilot. Anyone know?

 

[sandman2122]

I'm sure the media won't cover the story about him if/when he gets the charges dropped and goes back to work.

The wonderful drive-by media.

 

[Sluggo_63]

I have a couple of problems with the "process" by which many of our brethren are being snagged (in addition to having a problem with some of our brethren who are showing up to work snookered).

If the TSA bloodhounds smell something they don't like, they should take the guy aside right then and there. They shouldn't be allowed to wait until he "boards an aircraft." The way they do it now...tailing the pilot to see what he's gonna do and snagging him when he turns left at the bottom of the jetbridge...is utter crap.

Playing Devil's advocate here... if I remember correctly, when the first in the recent rash of TSA smelling pilots drunk happened in 2002, the TSA did just what you suggested. They pulled the pilot aside and called the cops. There was a tremendous outcry on this board that "they aren't trained for that" and "they have no right to detain someone for being drunk." Well it looks like they learned, and now if they smell something that they think is alcohol, they let the crewmember pass, and call the authorities. I don't like it, but I think they're not doing anything that a passenger wouldn't do who smelled something 'funny.'

It's also funny/sad that whenever a story breaks like this, people always write "if he was sober, he should sue." When have they ever turned out to be sober? Booze smells like booze, and mouthwash smells like mouthwash. If they smell booze... they probably smell booze.

What do I know, I'm a cargo guy and hardly ever have to deal with the TSA anyhow.

 

[Skybus]

Actually you are mistaken. Between work and commuting I pass through their domain at least 5 days a week if not more. The issue here is NOT the TSA rather the behavior of the pilot. I can assure you without having any more inside company information than you have ,it is highly unlikely that anybody would be jailed if they did not blow above the legal limit. Should this ever prove not to be the case I will extend my humble apology. Why are all these folks crucifying the TSA here?? Hitting a little too close to home perhaps??

 

[Stifler's Mom]

I wonder if wearing one of those Michael Jackson masks while walking through security would raise suspicion?

 

[Ty Webb]

It's also funny/sad that whenever a story breaks like this, people always write "if he was sober, he should sue." When have they ever turned out to be sober? Booze smells like booze, and mouthwash smells like mouthwash. If they smell booze... they probably smell booze.

Uh, I know of at least three people that have been pulled aside and given a breathalyzer. They were all negative- all three.

Also, the breathalyzer available at some airports doesn't get used very often, if ever, and often is not calibrated as it should be. One airport even has a Barney Fife with a little $50. Radio Shack Home Alcohol Detector that he has used on pilots passing through there in the wee hours. I would insist on a calibrated machine, or a blood sample.

I believe you have the right to request they draw blood instead. I would call my CP to confirm that procedure is available, and if so, request it. Get away from the circus environment of the airport, to a hospital. Also, you now have medically-trained witnesses to the fact that you did not appear to be intoxicated, which could be important if the results are negative or the samples lost or corrupted somehow. Same advice for a roadside DUI stop.


.

 

[Dennis Miller]

Why are all these folks crucifying the TSA here??

Did you end up on the "Pilots" message board by accident?

 

[bluejuice787]

I heard the TSA "nail technicians" get a bonus if they snag a drunk pilot. Anyone know?

Chef-

You usually have some funny observation but this is just ignorant. Why not do our industry a favor and not come to work drunk...Oh and I assure you that the TSA in mass does not think JB pilots are what you suggest because of your actions, I am sure they can see an individual ass. Most pilots that I see (JB or not) are friendly and cordial and see the bigger picture, but I am sure you put those nasty TSA in their place.

At the end of the day the TSA is trying to serve a vital function with limited funds and perhaps undereducated screeners but if you are not doing anything wrong you have nothing to fear.

Chef, I think you need to grow up a little.

Juice

 

[bluejuice787]

Uh, I know of at least three people that have been pulled aside and given a breathalyzer. They were all negative- all three.

OK and what is the problem? Other than the minor inconvenience what happened? My guess is nothing.

Juice

 

[CA1900]

OK and what is the problem? Other than the minor inconvenience what happened? My guess is nothing.

You mean aisde from being falsely accused of drunk flying by an overpaid wand monkey on a power trip?

 

[GuppyWN]

I start laying down a fart cloud when I toss my bag on the belt. I've never had a problem.

Gup