Holiday cheer from your Medical Department

[Noleave]

Emma Royds, until one knows what %dCDT the GCAA is using as its limit even a few drinks with dinner could put you above a threshold. What if the threshold that they'll use is 1.7% or 2%.

I still do not see the benefit of such a policy. I think it's very intrusive, particularly any test done after a long period of leave. Whilst on leave I have a drink with lunch and with dinner.

Do the powers that be have nothing better to do?

[jidder]

Better get rid of my shares in barracuda & African an Eastern

J

[Oldaircrew]

Emma royds,

That's not the point. The intrusion into your life is. You might be fine but I might not be.

My Dad had diabetes, i don't. I I'll still be subject to their pathetic tests. I have no choice. I am really glad that you will not be singled out in this specific round of testing but just remember that it may change for the next round and then maybe........

[The Outlaw]

Its akin to going to Shawshank prison.

HADLEY: "Turn to the right, face the warden."

WARDEN: You are all convicted pilots, thats why they have sent you to me. Rule number 1...no blasphemy, I will not have the company's name taken in vain...the rest of the rules you'll figure out when we change them or make them up...Questions?"

NEW HIRE: When do we eat?"

HADLEY: "You eat when we say you eat, you shit when we say you shit, you piss when we say you piss, you'll live where we say you'll live, you'll drink how much we say you'll drink...you got that you %[email protected](&!*^ ?? (PUNCHES NEW HIRE IN THE GUT)

WARDEN: I believe in two things, discipline and more discipline, here you'll receive both. Put your trust in the OMA, your ass belongs to me....welcome to the company".

Actually the whole movie is full of comparisons. Sure, you'll try to fight it for the first few years then after some time you become institutionalized unless you can escape though the pipe to freedom!

All kidding aside, it IS a huge intrusion in your personal life, just like the forced moves...you have no little or no control in your private life, the company always has the final say. They even had pictures in the buses showing pictures of urine filled beakers showing what the pee of a dehydrated person looks like. What mind comes up with this? Many more examples like this. I expect this latest "gem" was born out of a few pilots with an addiction who caused an operational disruption, so of course this is the solution put forward by the GCAA (who probably got their advice from an unmentioned clinic) is to put control on alcohol intake, watch this space...this is the first step to a total ban. Remember where you live and who you work for.

The world is full of wide eyed and un-enlightened pilots with beliefs of grandeur who have not yet realized the challenges such a move entails. Marriages fail, bad investments, spoilt children, absolute control...etc etc.

Call it a warning to those from the outside looking in and an incentive to those inside looking out.

[helen-damnation]

Some people posting here need to wake up and smell the coffee!

This has come from the GCAA, not EK. If you believe it's an intrusion then you might want to leave the UAE. Oh, by the way, drug and alcohol tests are not restricted to the UAE. They are common place in stand alone companies as well as those bidding for contracts where they are a requirement to bid for said contract.

If you are not a habitual abuser then it would appear you don't have to worry.

Having said that, it's Christmas day so I'm off for some ritual abuse

Happy Christmas and happy landings to all.

[serf]

Alcohol should not be consumed within 24hrs of a flying duty, if you think otherwise please look for another career.

[The Outlaw]

Serf,

With that outlook then the same should go for bus drivers, doctors, dentists, train drivers, architects, or anyone else for that matter who is responsible for lives. Its not as simple as that, one drink 24 hours before duty is not the same as lets say 20 where you still would be under the influence. Why not just ban it altogether for everyone world wide? That way the playing field is level....in your eyes I guess!


Helen,

I'm quite aware that this has come from the GCAA. I suspect the conception and driving force behind it has come from somewhere else with a vested interest in the policy. It seems to convenient that the end user is the beneficiary, don't you?

[jidder]

@ Serf, you've obviously been drinking

J

[helen-damnation]

Outlaw,

As I don't expect to have problem with this even thought I do enjoy a few slurps there is no beneficiary. None, nil, zip, nada.

I realise there is a contagion of conspiracy fear but frankly I'm not buying it on this one.

I do think you may be right in that the aforementioned little 5h!t (IMHO) is a corporate climber who is/has pushed certain policies to look good. However, this one isn't going to affect me or 99.9% of our colleagues.

To be blunt, if the quoted figures are correct

a bottle of wine or 5 pints of beer or a third of a bottle of sprits daily

I would not want to be flying with that person anyway.

Only saying...

[helen-damnation]

Should also add that IMO FR is a good Dr who was simply advising us of the new requirements and possible pitfalls.

[Mister Warning]

Funny thing - I was never "randomly" tested until my notice period after I resigned.
Coincidence? Me thinks not.

[skysod]

Not that worried by this because if they make the test too stringent then the vast majority of pilots will be grounded along with the aircraft they were supposed to be flying..........aint never gonna happen!!

[serf]

@ Serf, you've obviously been drinking

J

You're right, but then again I'm off for a week

However, is it worth risking your livelihood for a drink?

[Desdihold]

Serf,

You are a sad and insecure example of a human being.
Having a social drink is perfectly ok, there is no evidence that drinking socially within 24 to 12 hours of flying is dangerous.

The ek clinic have now become bloodhounds where they should be only watchdogs.

The Ek move has all the marks of something which is put forward on religious grounds by someone in the company.
It is very similar to a medical test Saudi airlines conducts on new hires to see if they have consumed pork ( it seems pork has a unique signature), if you test positive then you must take a prescribed medication and take the test again.

Serf, grow up and do so quickly.

[White Knight]

Originally Posted by serf

Alcohol should not be consumed within 24hrs of a flying duty

Rubbish... Depends on how well your body metabolises alcohol (different races cope with booze differently), how much is consumed, what is consumed etc! Sounds like you're from the hard hat and yellow jacket brigade

[falconeasydriver]

I can't fly without a stiffner or two....

You Tube

Besides, talking to a medical buddy of mine over a vat of ALE, he remarked that to get anything close to elevated levels...you would need to be a functioning alcoholic, or almost!

[serf]

Serf,
You are a sad and insecure example of a human being.
Having a social drink is perfectly ok, there is no evidence that drinking socially within 24 to 12 hours of flying is dangerous.

You're making stuff up now, I never said it was dangerous. However if you are stupid enough to drink before duty and then have a minor incident resulting in being tested, then carry on.

[Saltaire]

Having a beer or wine greater than 12 hours prior to duty is perfectly acceptable. It's been this way for many many years and 12 hours is plenty of time for the body to metabolize. Having a round of shooters just over the 12 hour limit and/or drinking excessively has always and will always be a problem. Don't be paranoid.

I certainly don't agree with this but 99% of us don't need to worry at all - it's those that drink daily and excessively.

[Count von Altibar]

That beggars belief. Do the GCAA think they've got a bit of an alcohol problem on the go out there? As you guys appear to get tested randomly anyway, surely that would be enough to deter/detect the problem people? This seems way too sneaky and invasive for my liking. It's like they're pushing for total control over the employee.

[Outatowner]

99% of us don't need to worry at all - it's those that drink daily and excessively.

and

If you are not a habitual abuser then it would appear you don't have to worry

Etc, etc. That's like saying of speed cameras and security cameras all over the UK, well if you don't do anything wrong you have nothing to worry about.

Amongst the changes, the following regulations referring to Alcohol Misuse have been introduced.

Does that really mean amongst the GCAA's changes, EK has slid in the following regulations? Why isn't there any chatter about this system being introduced to flydubai and Air Arabia and the forgotten down the road?

Why not publish the extract of the regulations for us to read for ourselves instead of acting as the mouthpiece? I've never before worked in a company where they don't want you reading the federal regs or making direct contact with the regulator. Because they have so much to hide and because they are control freaks.

iii. Referral following an aviation incident or work related issue

Interesting, what does that mean? Maybe if you make too many waves with awkward questions when no longer able to tolerate the latest management bullshit at the end of the RTGS day (except weekends when they cannot be bothered showing up) and you may find yourself up for some alcohol testing because you obviously have a problem.

Should also add that IMO FR is a good Dr who was simply advising us of the new requirements and possible pitfalls.

She presides over the compromises with which the medical system is riddled = sell-out.