Personal tragedy for this man - the 8 month prison sentence feels to me like kicking a man when he is down. I'm not a pilot, but I am only a few years younger than this man. To lose not only my job now, but also the opportunity to work again in the only career I know would be devastating for both me and my family. There would be no need to add a prison sentence on top of that (or at least they could have suspended it if they wanted to send a 'message').
If I'm reading it correctly he was at the UK drink drive limit, and not due to actually fly the plane for another few hours (I get what people are saying about he might have had to fly if someone else took ill etc). I think the loss of his career and a suspended sentence would have been punishment enough. I don't see why he is in prison when people who set out to hurt people are free on suspended sentences?