AA Pilot Grounded for .004% [sic] BAC
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AA Pilot Grounded for .004% [sic] BAC
Another in the continuing series...
________________________________________
Flight Grounded, Pilot Sent Home
Story by Alice Stewart Posted 1/27/2003 9:05:48 PM
The Transportation Security Administration is investigating a pilot scheduled to fly out of Little Rock Monday morning. That flight was cancelled though, after a federal screener said the pilot's breath smelled of alcohol. News 4 Arkansas learned that American Airlines is not taking any disciplinary action against pilot Craig Bott, but that doesn't mean that his actions didn't cause concern for the TSA.
45-year-old American Airlines Pilot, Craig Bott, made it as far as the passenger screening station at Little Rock National. A screener with the Transportation Security Administration called Little Rock Police. According to police reports, the screener smelled alcohol on Bott's breath, his eyes were bloodshot and glassy, and police say Bott was advised by his supervisor not to cooperate with authorities. "The officers, when they questioned him, he began eating breath mints. The TSA notified there was something not right about the person," explains Sergeant Terry Hastings, of the Little Rock Police Department.
The flight to Saint Louis was cancelled, and passengers boarded another plane. Police say Bott failed two field sobriety tests, then was taken in for a blood alcohol test. "He registered .004 on BAC."
According to federal regulations, no person can act as a crewmember within eight hours after consuming alcohol, while under the influence of alcohol, or while having .04 blood alcohol content. Even though Bott was well below the limit, passengers say the TSA did the right thing. "Any amount of alcohol is too much, considering the number of lives in their hands," says Rauzelle Smith, who appreciates the safety measures.
Lisa McRae, who appreciates the safety measures, tells News 4 Arkansas, "small amount, any amount, we need to know those things."
Bott is based out of Saint Louis. American says they have reviewed the facts and will not take action against him. As for why, they wouldn't say, but they did say they appreciated the diligence on the part of the TSA. Director of the TSA in Little rock, Jerry Henderson, says screeners are trained observers. If they notice anything unusual, they are required to get law enforcement involved right away.
http://www.kark.com/karktv/news/stor...w&Storyid=5634
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Pilot Stopped After Alcohol Detected
By Associated Press
January 27, 2003, 10:29 PM EST
LITTLE ROCK -- An American Airlines pilot was kept from boarding his flight Monday after agents at a security checkpoint smelled alcohol and mint on his breath.
The pilot's blood-alcohol content was 0.004 percent -- well below the legal limit of 0.04 percent for operating a plane under FAA guidelines and below the 0.02 percent level set by American Airlines, police said.
The pilot, who was not charged, was not permitted to fly the St. Louis-bound flight.
Passengers were delayed about three hours.
A police report said the pilot took part in a field sobriety test but initially refused a blood-alcohol test. One was later performed at the county jail.
American Airlines spokesman Todd Burke said the airline would work with federal and local authorities if more action is needed.
http://www.newsday.com/news/nationwo...tion-headlines
________________________________________
Flight Grounded, Pilot Sent Home
Story by Alice Stewart Posted 1/27/2003 9:05:48 PM
The Transportation Security Administration is investigating a pilot scheduled to fly out of Little Rock Monday morning. That flight was cancelled though, after a federal screener said the pilot's breath smelled of alcohol. News 4 Arkansas learned that American Airlines is not taking any disciplinary action against pilot Craig Bott, but that doesn't mean that his actions didn't cause concern for the TSA.
45-year-old American Airlines Pilot, Craig Bott, made it as far as the passenger screening station at Little Rock National. A screener with the Transportation Security Administration called Little Rock Police. According to police reports, the screener smelled alcohol on Bott's breath, his eyes were bloodshot and glassy, and police say Bott was advised by his supervisor not to cooperate with authorities. "The officers, when they questioned him, he began eating breath mints. The TSA notified there was something not right about the person," explains Sergeant Terry Hastings, of the Little Rock Police Department.
The flight to Saint Louis was cancelled, and passengers boarded another plane. Police say Bott failed two field sobriety tests, then was taken in for a blood alcohol test. "He registered .004 on BAC."
According to federal regulations, no person can act as a crewmember within eight hours after consuming alcohol, while under the influence of alcohol, or while having .04 blood alcohol content. Even though Bott was well below the limit, passengers say the TSA did the right thing. "Any amount of alcohol is too much, considering the number of lives in their hands," says Rauzelle Smith, who appreciates the safety measures.
Lisa McRae, who appreciates the safety measures, tells News 4 Arkansas, "small amount, any amount, we need to know those things."
Bott is based out of Saint Louis. American says they have reviewed the facts and will not take action against him. As for why, they wouldn't say, but they did say they appreciated the diligence on the part of the TSA. Director of the TSA in Little rock, Jerry Henderson, says screeners are trained observers. If they notice anything unusual, they are required to get law enforcement involved right away.
http://www.kark.com/karktv/news/stor...w&Storyid=5634
________________________________
Pilot Stopped After Alcohol Detected
By Associated Press
January 27, 2003, 10:29 PM EST
LITTLE ROCK -- An American Airlines pilot was kept from boarding his flight Monday after agents at a security checkpoint smelled alcohol and mint on his breath.
The pilot's blood-alcohol content was 0.004 percent -- well below the legal limit of 0.04 percent for operating a plane under FAA guidelines and below the 0.02 percent level set by American Airlines, police said.
The pilot, who was not charged, was not permitted to fly the St. Louis-bound flight.
Passengers were delayed about three hours.
A police report said the pilot took part in a field sobriety test but initially refused a blood-alcohol test. One was later performed at the county jail.
American Airlines spokesman Todd Burke said the airline would work with federal and local authorities if more action is needed.
http://www.newsday.com/news/nationwo...tion-headlines
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0.004 - couldn't that be caused by a piece of chocolate w/ alcohol filling? Just out of curiousity...
Hour increase, job insecurity, TSA & FAA (or CAA) and those kind of headlines. I am almost ashamed to tell people that I am a pilot...
Begin to wonder if it is worth to cope with all this cr@p.
Hour increase, job insecurity, TSA & FAA (or CAA) and those kind of headlines. I am almost ashamed to tell people that I am a pilot...
Begin to wonder if it is worth to cope with all this cr@p.
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>>Hour increase, job insecurity, TSA & FAA (or CAA) and those kind of headlines. I am almost ashamed to tell people that I am a pilot... <<
Yep, my neighbors still think I'm a piano player in a bordello...
Yep, my neighbors still think I'm a piano player in a bordello...
Just don't let em stand close enough to smell anything-if they try to get too close, just tell the TSA guy that you are not gay and back off if he doesn't want a visit to an oral surgeon.
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Haha, that was a good one IG!!! 
Airbubba, you won't believe the comments I got from non-aviation but FS2000 professionals "All you do is drink and push buttons"
Yeah right!
"Don't blame me for your p!ss-poor job" usually shuts 'em up!
Airbubba, you won't believe the comments I got from non-aviation but FS2000 professionals "All you do is drink and push buttons"
Yeah right!
"Don't blame me for your p!ss-poor job" usually shuts 'em up!
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I'm beginning to think this is becoming a national sport amongst anybody working at airports. Professional Pilots must start countering this gathering trend. Seems to me a good way would be for pilots, before going through terminals, should dab some 'after shave' on. If you were to leave your after shave at home, it is not unreasonable to use a few dabs from a miniature bottle of Scotch/JD you may have (with receipt of course), being careful to avoid imbibing any of the prohibited liquor. Then let all the 'heroes' grind air traffic to halt whilst they wait to be declared 'clear'. A week of this will stop this nonsense. I say this as a teatotaler myself with no wish to encourage illegal drinking, but it is becoming a witch hunt to try and get a pilots scalp on your belt, and this is not healthy. Pilots should have the right to relax and enjoy their rests on nightstops when they can be on 6 earlies in a row with a couple of days off then another 6 days. This gives ONE day to have a drink in a fortnight. Something has to change- either rosters are stretched suitably or pilots can socialise without breaking laws, but this current witch hunt must stop.
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Where is IFALPA? We need to put our foot down now!!! To be honest lets park all aircraft this afternoon, go have beer like so called normal people and then not fly for 24 hrs. I´m sick of all the BS.
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I thoroughly recomend a particularly "stinky" Chilli or Curry laced with tons of garlic, for breakfast from now on.
Or if it 's a really good one, the previous nites supper will almost certainly do as well.
You would be surprised at how quick your body search at security will become !
Or if it 's a really good one, the previous nites supper will almost certainly do as well.
You would be surprised at how quick your body search at security will become !
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So this means not only no alcohol 12 hours into the flight but also no fruit or fresh juice for breakfast, no cough syrup the night before flight etc... just where is this planet heading to?
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Beware the Altoids...
______________________________________
Tuesday, January 28, 2003
Official stops pilot after smelling alcohol
above the FAA limit.
LITTLE ROCK (AP) -- An American Airlines pilot was kept from boarding his flight Monday after agents at a security checkpoint detected a strong odor of alcohol and breath mints.
The pilot's blood-alcohol level did not exceed guidelines set by the airline or Federal Aviation Administration, but that the pilot did not fly Flight 2938 to St. Louis.
"It's something that shouldn't be done, whether it be a car, an airplane or a boat or whatever. It's just a risk that shouldn't happen," said Little Rock police spokesman Terry Hastings.
Passengers were delayed about three hours.
The pilot's blood-alcohol content was 0.004 percent -- well below the legal limit of 0.04 percent for operating a plane under FAA guidelines and below the 0.02 percent level set by American Airlines.
"There was a strong odor of intoxicants about his person and he had eaten a huge amount of Altoid breath mints," said a police report filed by Officer Sean Berryman.
American Airlines spokesman Todd Burke said Monday that the federal Transportation Security Administration crew at the airport told the airline they felt one of its pilots wasn't fit for duty...
...Last August, a pilot who tested positive for alcohol-use before a flight was fired by Mesa Airlines after being stopped at the Little Rock gate.
His blood-alcohol level was 0.06 percent
______________________________________
Tuesday, January 28, 2003
Official stops pilot after smelling alcohol
above the FAA limit.
LITTLE ROCK (AP) -- An American Airlines pilot was kept from boarding his flight Monday after agents at a security checkpoint detected a strong odor of alcohol and breath mints.
The pilot's blood-alcohol level did not exceed guidelines set by the airline or Federal Aviation Administration, but that the pilot did not fly Flight 2938 to St. Louis.
"It's something that shouldn't be done, whether it be a car, an airplane or a boat or whatever. It's just a risk that shouldn't happen," said Little Rock police spokesman Terry Hastings.
Passengers were delayed about three hours.
The pilot's blood-alcohol content was 0.004 percent -- well below the legal limit of 0.04 percent for operating a plane under FAA guidelines and below the 0.02 percent level set by American Airlines.
"There was a strong odor of intoxicants about his person and he had eaten a huge amount of Altoid breath mints," said a police report filed by Officer Sean Berryman.
American Airlines spokesman Todd Burke said Monday that the federal Transportation Security Administration crew at the airport told the airline they felt one of its pilots wasn't fit for duty...
...Last August, a pilot who tested positive for alcohol-use before a flight was fired by Mesa Airlines after being stopped at the Little Rock gate.
His blood-alcohol level was 0.06 percent
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????
Am I missing something here ...?
and
There was a strong odor of intoxicants about his person and he had eaten a huge amount of Altoid breath mints
The pilot's blood-alcohol content was 0.004 percent -- well below the legal limit of 0.04 percent for operating a plane under FAA guidelines and below the 0.02 percent level set by American Airlines.
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errr BusyB .004% is a very small amount. That's what two friends of mine - both doctors - state, too. In fact, they wouldn't really call it "intoxicated".
Additionally, the amount was way below the FAA and AA limit. If you are hardly intoxicated how can you have a strong odor of intoxicants?
Next time I'll stop the TSA guys when they are about to stop in their car for their way home, and let 'em take the test, too.
The Press at its best...
Additionally, the amount was way below the FAA and AA limit. If you are hardly intoxicated how can you have a strong odor of intoxicants?
Next time I'll stop the TSA guys when they are about to stop in their car for their way home, and let 'em take the test, too.
The Press at its best...
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...Last August, a pilot who tested positive for alcohol-use before a flight was fired by Mesa Airlines after being stopped at the Little Rock gate.
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It occurs to me that maybe greater suspicion is placed on you if your breathe smells of mints now. Security obviously believes your trying to hide something. Maybe I'll just gas everybody with my garlic breathe instead. If the pilot was well within the limits of his company's permissible limits then this appears to be a case of the media trying to make a story out of nothing. It's going to be a tough choice for you pilot folk. You either become a teatotal celibate monk or a pilot. Not a great deal of difference just one can fly an aircraft.
Let’s put 0.004 percent into perspective. For a 180lb man one mixed drink will result in a BAC of approximately 0.020.
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a case of the media trying to make a story out of nothing
