SWA f/o arrested for intoxication

[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

 

[Blucher]

Chef-


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

Juice,

Please tell me you don't actually believe the TSA has ever actually done anything productive. With all due respect, to refer to them as serving "a vital function" is borderline insane.

-Blucher:erm:

 

[bluejuice787]

Juice,

Please tell me you don't actually believe the TSA has ever actually done anything productive. With all due respect, to refer to them as serving "a vital function" is borderline insane.

-Blucher:erm:

Perhaps they do absolutly nothing with regard to keeping us safe but the flying public believes they do. I happen to believe that both the perception and reality of safety are "vital".

 

[twepilot]

A minor inconvenience???? Lets see...I could lose my job, my future finincial security, my kids ability to attend college on my nickel, my house , my cars, my toys, do I need to go on? As Guido the killer pimp once said, " Don't ever, EVER, Eff with a mans livelihood."

RV

 

[bluejuice787]

A minor inconvenience???? Lets see...I could lose my job, my future finincial security, my kids ability to attend college on my nickel, my house , my cars, my toys, do I need to go on? As Guido the killer pimp once said, " Don't ever, EVER, Eff with a mans livelihood."

RV

Ohh, OK so you are talking about being "set-up". Now I get it, there are a bunch of TSA screeners that are organizing to destroy the careers of airline pilots.

Are you people serious? Just don't come to work drunk. It really is that simple. If you happen to be asked to take a breath test, do it, test negative and then go on your way.

Juice

 

[Bavarian Chef]

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

Excuse me? I ask a question and this is what I get? Reread the thread -- I said I don't talk to them because I am wary of their procedures/policy. I don't fly drunk nor do I push the limits, but that doesn't mean I couldn't be pulled aside like so many others because of some wayward suspicion (mouthwash for example). My question about "nail technicians" is just that, a question. As for calling them "nail technicians", I am merely expressing my opinion about quite a few I have seen (and I am using another poster's phrase at that), not jetblue's.

"Gorilla -- you got it. I look at them with a blank stare, no hellos no how ya doin, nothing. I refuse to talk to TSA, which probably only makes them think jb pilots are rude, but I refuse to have one of those jagnuts point a finger at me for gargling with mouthwash."

That's my original post. Where do you come off bluejuice? No where in my "contract" does it say I have to talk to people. Ha.

If you want to discuss my "ass", PM me. It's quite breathtaking.

 

[:-)]

I can see it now, the new TMAAT question, ".....TMAAT that you saved the company and your co-worker from the TSA?"


If the pilot in question turns out to be guilty, then he deserves the punishment.

If you talk to the TSA, you're probably stupid.

If this charge is proven to be false, then I suggest that we all start a letter to the editor campaign.

 

[WorldOnTime]

I happen to believe that both the perception and reality of safety are "vital".

Quite possibly the dumbest thing I have read in a long time! I vote for reality, which is not what we are getting from Homeland Security or the TSA. Biggest bureacracy and clustercluck in history!

 

[Bavarian Chef]

Quite possibly the dumbest thing I have read in a long time! I vote for reality, which is not what we are getting from Homeland Security or the TSA. Biggest bureacracy and clustercluck in history!

Amen, brutha.

 

[Diesel]

I wonder how many tsa screener's show up drunk to work.

While passing through last week, (boston is known for its surley tsa agents) the guy kept saying to passengers, "it doesn't matter to me if you get on the plane or not." The other TSA professionals (ha) kept calling him Mr. Lawsuit.

 

[Blucher]

Quite possibly the dumbest thing I have read in a long time! I vote for reality, which is not what we are getting from Homeland Security or the TSA. Biggest bureacracy and clustercluck in history!

WOT, I have to agree with you there.

Juice, essentially what you're saying is that the TSA is money well spent. This is something I strongly disagree with. I think it is one of the most useless and expensive pieces of window dressing we've been forced to pay for in a long, long time. I have literally never heard of anything productive that organization has ever done as far as keeping the traveling public safe.

-Blucher

 

[Jack Mahogoff]

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

Exactly!! If your layover is 14 hours, limit yourself to 14 beers. If your layover is 18 hours, limit yourself to no more than 18 beers, etc. Always remember, if you're legal to start, you're legal to finish.

Seriously, if pilots keep getting caught I'm sure the day will come that we will have a 0.0 BAL and a mandatory no alcohol on overnight policy. As someone above earlier said, don't go to work with booze on your breath. Anyone ever hear of Altoids?

 

[CA1900]

Plus, don't forget, the whole 8-hour rule is only for single-pilot ops. In a multi-pilot crew, you divide the 8 hours by the number of pilots. (So a two-man crew only needs 4 hours.) Little-known fact. imp:

 

[Stifler's Mom]

Anyone ever hear of Altoids?

Nothing a little Preparation H can't take care of.

 

[canyonblue]

Seriously, if pilots keep getting caught I'm sure the day will come that we will have a 0.0 BAL and a mandatory no alcohol on overnight policy.

Oh yea, and Michael Jackson is going to stop playing with little kids. The drinking rule is there for those that can understand social drinking. It does not reflect the 8 and 10 percent of Americans - or one in nine people - that are alcoholics. They will not abide by rules or threats of expulsion, and will continue to flaunt the rules until caught, or worse. For this guys sake I hope it was an error in arresting him.

 

[Gorilla]

No one is advocating trying to "beat" the system that TSA (AND FAMs, but that's another thread) have set up to protect the public, by using breath mints or mouthwash. Everyone here is saying play by the rules. I agree.

With that said, I refuse to play their stupid game. It's a no-win situation. You either get arrested, or you fly your trip. I'd rather just fly my trip without monkeying around for the minimum of 30 minutes it's going to take to set up the machine, have witnesses, etc etc. What if the machine is messed up? I could be enjoying a starbucks and reading the paper... instead, I'm blowing into a machine with a cop at my shoulder, all because I decided to be "nice" to the TSA idiot who gets in my face and says really loudly "WHERE YA OFF TO TODAY, CHIEF!!??"

No thank you.

 

[SWA/FO]

where is the SWA/FO?

 

[stonewall]

where is the SWA/FO?

Took you a while...glad to see you finally posted bail.

 

[SWA/FO]

I think he is on Flightinfo.com.

Like I remind everyone else.. there are Doctors, Lawyers, Police, Judges etc... have drinking issues. Just saw on TV a Judge in LAS that got arrested for beating up his girlfriend. They said most of his cases involve domestic volience. Alcohol in SLC? Who would have guess they even have the stuff?

A very sad day for Southwest Airlines and our profession. Hopefully, this fella turns it around IF IT IS TRUE.

the SWA/FO

 

[bluejuice787]

Excuse me? I ask a question and this is what I get? Reread the thread -- I said I don't talk to them because I am wary of their procedures/policy. I don't fly drunk nor do I push the limits, but that doesn't mean I couldn't be pulled aside like so many others because of some wayward suspicion (mouthwash for example). My question about "nail technicians" is just that, a question. As for calling them "nail technicians", I am merely expressing my opinion about quite a few I have seen (and I am using another poster's phrase at that), not jetblue's.

"Gorilla -- you got it. I look at them with a blank stare, no hellos no how ya doin, nothing. I refuse to talk to TSA, which probably only makes them think jb pilots are rude, but I refuse to have one of those jagnuts point a finger at me for gargling with mouthwash."

That's my original post. Where do you come off bluejuice? No where in my "contract" does it say I have to talk to people. Ha.

If you want to discuss my "ass", PM me. It's quite breathtaking.

Where do I get off? I take exception to your simple-minded-ness. Can you name me one person that you know personally that has been asked by the TSA to take a breath test? Could the TSA be much better? I believe so. Is it what we have to work with...yes. Rather than be an ass in uniform why not just be your comical self and if asked to take a breath test (read: I seriously doubt you would) do it and be on your way.

As far as your contract, you are correct, you have no obligation to speak to anyone. If, however, you turn over that ID you were issued when you came to JB and read the values you should have every reason not to be an ass. If you have problems with the TSA tell your chief pilot leader or write you congressman etc. Personally I treat everyone the same and ironically have never had an issue.

Aside from you Chef, pilots are notorious in believing that everything that they ever heard happening to someone else has in fact happened to them personally.

Juice

 

[CA1900]

Where do I get off? I take exception to your simple-minded-ness. Can you name me one person that you know personally that has been asked by the TSA to take a breath test?

I can't speak for Chef, but I know one who has. I won't name names, but he was cornered at the counter and escorted away by sheriff's deputies into their office, to await the local police for a breathalyzer. All because the TSA goon "smelled something." Nevermind that he blew 0.00% three times in a row.

These people are a menace to the traveling public, and are nothing but a burden on our economy, and a drain on the airline industry.

You want to know one of my favorite security checkpoints? Rochester, New York. It's staffed by a contractor, which does a better job, with fewer personnel and less bureaucracy.