TAROM pilot grounded flight LHR-OTP cancelled

[xcris]

Bucharest/07.02.2013 (Official TAROM press release):

Tarom RO/ROT 394 London-Bucharest flight canceled yesterday, February 6, 2013, due to the fact that a crew member was physically unable to operate the flight. Medical unfitness was found by airport authorities in London after a routine check. Currently undertaking an investigation to determine why the pilot was unable to make the flight. For safety reasons, TAROM decided yesterday cancellation of the flight and passengers received assistance under EU Directive 261/2004 and were rerouted on other flights yesterday to reach the destination.

The pilot returned to the country today and has been suspended until the completion of the investigation. After receiving the official results, TAROM will take all the necessary measures in accordance with all national and international regulations in force. If after investigation it is determined that the pilot was found positive for alcohol control, he will be fired immediately, in accordance with the internal regulations of the company. TAROM meet the highest national and international safety standards and the safety of its operations is the main priority of the company, therefore such misconduct will not be tolerated.


Bucureşti/07.02.2013:
TAROM a anulat zborul RO394 Londra-Bucuresti de ieri, 6 februarie 2013, din cauza faptului ca un membru al echipajului s-a aflat in incapacitate fizica de a opera zborul. Inaptitudinea medicala a fost depistata de autoritatile aeroportuare din Londra in urma unui control de rutina. In prezent se desfasoara o investigatie pentru a stabili motivele pentru care pilotul s-a aflat in imposibilitatea de a efectua zborul. Din motive de siguranta, TAROM a decis anularea zborului de ieri, iar pasagerii cursei au beneficiat de asistenta conform Directivei Europene 261/2004 si au fost rerutati pe alte zboruri de ieri pentru a ajunge la destinatie.

Pilotul a revenit in tara in cursul zilei de astazi si a fost suspendat din activitate pana la finalizarea investigatiei. Dupa primirea rezultatelor oficiale, TAROM va lua toate masurile care se vor impune, in conformitate cu toate reglementarile nationale si internationale in vigoare. Daca in urma investigatiei se stabileste ca pilotul a fost depistat pozitiv la un control al alcoolemiei, acesta va fi concediat imediat, in conformitate cu regulamentul de ordine interioara al companiei. TAROM respecta cele mai inalte standarde de siguranta nationale si internationale, iar siguranta operatiunilor sale reprezinta principala prioritate a companiei, prin urmare astfel de abateri disciplinare nu sunt tolerate.


Detalii stire - (http://www.tarom.ro/despre-noi/noutati-si-presa/stiri/detalii-stire.html?news=195)

[LeCCa]

So what exactly is the legal limit of alcohol for an airline pilot? Is it truly 0.2?

[SLFguy]

"So what exactly is the legal limit of alcohol for an airline pilot? Is it truly 0.2? "


Are we already going down the Palinca route? :}

[xcris]

As far as I know, different from country to country: US/FAA 0.04% concentration (ml of alohool in 100 ml of blood), JAR 0.02% and a 8 hour rule of non-drinking before flying. Anyway many countries/companies go below that (0)

0.2% is death :ouch:

SLFguy: touché :) :)

[5milesbaby]

Uk Railways and Transport Safety Act 2003 can be found here (http://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2003/20/contents). Part 5 (section 93) is the aviation relevant part that states:
(2)The prescribed limit of alcohol is (subject to subsection (3))—
(a)in the case of breath, 9 microgrammes of alcohol in 100 millilitres,
(b)in the case of blood, 20 milligrammes of alcohol in 100 millilitres, and
(c)in the case of urine, 27 milligrammes of alcohol in 100 millilitres.
This is all 1/4 of the current UK drink/driving laws.

[aflyer100]

Though not applicable to this incident, the applicable US regulation is actually CFR 14 Part 91.17(a) which states:

Sec. 91.17 — Alcohol or drugs.

(a) No person may act or attempt to act as a crewmember of a civil aircraft—

(1) Within 8 hours after the consumption of any alcoholic beverage;
(2) While under the influence of alcohol;
(3) While using any drug that affects the person's faculties in any way contrary to safety; or
(4) While having an alcohol concentration of 0.04 or greater in a blood or breath specimen. Alcohol concentration means grams of alcohol per deciliter of blood or grams of alcohol per 210 liters of breath.

[Tinribs]

Yes but what are the legal limits in the country of departure, that is where a crime, it at all, has been committed

[despegue]

The limit of the country of registration is the legal limit for the crew as far as I know.

[eglnyt]

The limit of the country of registration is the legal limit for the crew as far as I know.

Certainly not the case in the UK. If you carry out what is defined as a flight function or flight activity in the Railways and Transport Safety Act 2003 within the UK then the Act, and the limits contained within it, apply to you regardless of where the aircraft is registered. Several foreign pilots flying foreign registered aircraft have been prosecuted under the Act in the UK.

It is true that the Act extends to flight functions and flight activities carried out in UK aircraft outside of the UK and it's quite possible that other states may also extend their legislation outside of their own borders but that doesn't absolve you from requirements where you are.

[Capn Bloggs]

0.2% is death
We've been thru this before. The way the Europeans and the rest measure Blood Alchohol levels are diffferent. 0.2 is 0.02. :ok:

[16024]

0.2% is death. (assuming g/dl).

Nah, it's only about 7 pints. Less if you're on the Ruddles. Lunchtime stuff.

[LeCCa]

Romanian pilot Radu Cristea who performed with Red Arrows found to be twice over drink-fly limit | Mail Online (http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2307064/Romanian-pilot-Radu-Cristea-performed-Red-Arrows-twice-drink-fly-limit.html)

[westhawk]

I post the following in response to an above post and just so that nobody gets the idea that US air carrier employees are allowed a higher blood alcohol content than they actually are.

While part 91 specifies .04% BAC as the threshold to be considered unfit to perform required aircraft crewmember duties, air carriers must comply with part 120 requirements as follows:

Part 120.221 (http://www.ecfr.gov/cgi-bin/text-idx?c=ecfr&SID=d7db88e45f86b455b1ddb10cb2bb5ec9&rgn=div8&view=text&node=14:3.0.1.1.6.6.1.11&idno=14)
(f) Other alcohol-related conduct . (1) No covered employee tested under this subpart who is found to have an alcohol concentration of 0.02 or greater but less than 0.04 shall perform or continue to perform safety-sensitive functions for an employer, nor shall an employer permit the employee to perform or continue to perform safety-sensitive functions, until:
(i) The employee's alcohol concentration measures less than 0.02; or
(ii) The start of the employee's next regularly scheduled duty period, but not less than 8 hours following administration of the test.
(2) Except as provided in paragraph (f)(1) of this section, no employer shall take any action under this rule against an employee based solely on test results showing an alcohol concentration less than 0.04. This does not prohibit an employer with authority independent of this rule from taking any action otherwise consistent with law.


So US certificated air carrier employees performing any function deemed "safety sensitive" as per the regulation are the considered "covered" employees and subject to drug and alcohol testing as provided in part 120. If they test at .02% BAC or greater they may not perform safety sensitive duties until they are below .02. If they test .04% or more, they are in violation and subject to all the great things that come with violating the rule.

As an aside, all US flights must comply with all laws applicable within the country they are in at the time, so if another country's law or regulation is more restrictive it has precedence except as provided by treaty or agreement.

westhawk