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Airbubba
23rd Apr 2003, 13:33
A familiar story these days.

The usual caveats apply:

An isolated incident, he is innocent until proven guilty etc., etc., etc...

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Drunken pilot removed from plane in Grand Rapids

Posted: 04/22/2003 03:06 pm
Last Updated: 04/22/2003 03:06 pm

The captain of an American Eagle flight was pulled off his plane Tuesday morning after airport staff and passengers said they smelled alcohol on his breath. Flight 3796 and its 36 passengers arrived in Dallas late this morning, but its original pilot never made it to his final destination. He's still in Grand Rapids, Michigan and spent the morning in the custody of his own company.

One report said the pilot's preliminary breathalyzer test registered .12 which is three times above the legal limit for pilots. Another pilot flew the plane, which arrived at DFW airport around 8:30.

American Eagle said it would administer its own breathalyzer test and they've opened an investigation.

The pilot's name has not been released.


http://www.wndu.com/news/042003/news_19554.php


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Michigan to Texas flight; blood-alcohol level above limit

Tuesday, April 22, 2003

(04-22) 11:18 PDT GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. (AP) --

An American Eagle pilot was pulled from a flight minutes before it was to depart Tuesday after authorities believed they smelled alcohol on the pilot's breath at a security checkpoint.

Police at Gerald R. Ford International Airport escorted the captain from the plane and conducted a preliminary breath test that indicated a blood-alcohol level of 0.12 percent, or three times the Federal Aviation Administration's legal limit, said airport spokesman Bruce Schedlbauer.

"The captain has been suspended from service ... pending the outcome of the investigation," said Lisa Bailey, American Eagle spokeswoman, who said company policy prevented her from identifying the pilot.

The pilot was is in the custody of American Eagle personnel and was to undergo additional blood-alcohol tests, Bailey said,

Bailey said American Eagle's alcohol policy is more stringent than FAA standards and that crew members may face disciplinary action if blood-alcohol content was found to be over .02 percent.

Flight 3796 to Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport was scheduled to leave at 6 a.m., but left at 7 a.m., flown by another pilot, Schedlbauer said. Thirty-six people were on board.


http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?file=/news/archive/2003/04/22/national1418EDT0588.DTL

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A sense of the public's view of the issue at:

http://members.aol.com/paulmaus1/Homer.wmv

(A two-minute Windows Media file)

Flying Lawyer
23rd Apr 2003, 22:07
With apologies to any Grand Rapidians who read this ..........

If the allegation is eventually proved to be true, I suspect the pilot will have some sympathy from anyone who knows Grand Rapids.
I spent a week there advising BF Goodrich Avionics, and work was the high point of the day. There didn't appear to be any rapids, 'Grand' or otherwise. Gerald Ford, after whom the airport, the main freeway into town and many other things are so proudly named, left when he was a student and hasn't lived there since.
There's not much else to do in Grand Rapids but prop up a bar somewhere! :)

finalschecks
24th Apr 2003, 07:47
Can we move this to Airlines, routes. etc ... please?

Moneyshot
25th Apr 2003, 08:04
Flying Lawyer...Sir .... You are a true comedian. I enjoyed your post and chortled for a good few seconds. keep up the good work..

DownIn3Green
28th Apr 2003, 10:23
Can't believe this type of "news" has become so routine that no one cares to comment on it "ad nausem"...

stormin norman
29th Apr 2003, 06:10
I'll drink to that!