AAA View from the back - An Alternative Alcoholism & Pilots thread
Am I the only one who is becoming sickened by the self-righteousness of 'redeemed alcoholic pilots' and their over-liberal 'professional' supporters club being spouted in the sticky Pilot Jailed (Alcoholism & Pilots) in the main forum?
That thread has been subjected to heavy editing to make it what it is. My views were censored and I am currently not authorised to post in Rumours & News (for a second time). No explanation has been given for the restriction. Like last time, I'd just read how one or two prominent posters didn't like my views, then my views got chopped and I couldn't view the forum anymore unless I was logged out. Just plain censorship.
I personally am totally disinterested in flying as a passenger behind a redeemed alcoholic. I don't think alcoholics or any kind of person who drinks too much or does drugs & flies deserves any kind of redemption as a professional pilot. I think that allowing a fallen pilot to go back to flying an airliner full of strangers after being caught once already is a totally ridiculous suggestion. No one is that indispensable.
I think that if the message from the industry to its pilots is as 'namby-pamby' as the current thrust in the main thread, the industry cannot be trusted to keep itself clean. There are more than enough other pilots coming through who do not have drink problems at all and who never will. They might not be as good pilots as some who fall from grace by my rules, but I'll live with that thanks.
If you are a professional pilot and you have a drinks cabinet that you open most days after work then I am sorry friend, you probably are a problem and I want you tested when you go on duty.
If you are a professional pilot and your idea of a good day usually involves going to a bar with friends when you are off duty then sorry friend but you probably are a problem and I want you tested.
If you are a professional pilot and you regularly drink the two beers or spirits from the minibar then sorry friend you probably are a problem and I want you tested.
The other thread seems to conclude a weird mix of
(a) implication that 'there is no evidence to suggest' the problem is significant enough to warrant ruining a pilot's career, and
(b) observation that if too much noise is made, the sensitive little furry problem pilots will hide and won't come out to where we can hold our hands out to them.
I can't be doing with that kind of mealy-mouthed claptrap. Test them all I say. If you fail you are out. It's tough. I really don't care whether you have a disease or just a bad habit or a bad day. Go fly your mother, but not mine.
I don't suppose my views so put DO sit comfortably with any huge majority, but neither do I believe I am diametrically opposed to the majority view.
What say the rest of you here in the back?