I'm sure that the RFDS SMS covers his "tiredness"...If he failed to use the system and call in that he was unable to fly the RFDS would listen.
Does it? And would they? As it turns out this happen in mid afternoon. Do their work rules cover day time fatigue or just nights? Do they even have a FMS? Can you go mid duty fatigued? Do you receive subtle pressure for going fatigued? Some of the rostering practices in some RFDS sections are outrageous.
Anyway drugs aside it is a disgrace that this guy got fired before they even had an investigation. Stood down on full pay should what happens. Once the investigation is complete then you can fire him.
As I said before this could blow right up in RFDS's face if it ends up being a cockup one way or another.
If this was a politician or some high profile person in society they would be saying that we need to wait for a full investigation before we can do anything but in aviation you just get the boot.....awesome system.
Either way it doesn't sound good if the newspapers are anything to go by....
A ROYAL Flying Doctor Service pilot allegedly passed out at the controls of a plane for 13 minutes while transporting patients, later testing positive to methamphetamine.
A nurse had to wake him as the plane flew to Brisbane during the airport's peak hour.
The pilot was sacked yesterday over the incident on an RFDS King Air B200 on November 5.
He was the only pilot on board the plane, which was also carrying two patients.
The Courier-Mail understands Air Traffic Control became concerned after the King Air left its assigned altitude without clearance about 42 minutes into a flight from Bundaberg.
RFDS Queensland CEO Nino Di Marco said the plane lost contact with Air Traffic Control for 13 minutes.
The incident is believed to have occurred between 4pm and 4.13pm.
"The plane subsequently regained contact," Mr Di Marco said.
"The aircraft then landed and all on board landed safety."
Under the RFDS drugs and alcohol policy, the pilot was tested after the mid-air incident and allegedly found positive to methamphetamine.
Mr Di Marco said the pilot, one of about 60 working for the RFDS in Queensland, was dismissed under the service's "zero tolerance" to flying under the influence of drugs or alcohol.
"That's the whole issue here," he said.
"Patient welfare and employee safety to us are non-negotiable. We just can't compromise on those. That is our primary focus.
"The RFDS takes its impeccable safety record very seriously and last year safely transported more than 11,000 patients across Queensland."
The pilot is believed to be the first in the 84-year history of the RFDS to be dismissed for flying under the influence of illicit drugs.
Mr Di Marco said the RFDS had notified the Civil Aviation Safety Authority and the Australian Transport Safety Bureau about the incident. The matter had also been referred to the police.
"A number of investigations are under way. Until those investigations are complete, I can't comment further," he said.
CASA conducts random drug and alcohol testing on pilots across Australia and RFDS pilots are tested under that program.
Queensland's Chief Nursing Officer Frances Hughes said she was relieved the nurse, patients and pilot had landed safely.
"My concern now is to ensure the wellbeing of our nurse and the ongoing treatment of the patients who were on board," Dr Hughes said.
Mr Di Marco said the RFDS had been working with Queensland Health to support the nurse, believed to have taken leave after the incident.
"The patients have been contacted and support offered," he said.
Chief Health Officer Jeannette Young said any airborne incident, from turbulence to something more serious, could be stressful.