RFDS Pilot Sacked
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I am sure this would not have made it into the media had it not been fully investigated and proven beyond all reasonable doubt by the employer, over the interveneing two weeks:
"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 plane lost contact with Air Traffic Control for 13 minutes.
RFDS had been working with Queensland Health to support the nurse, believed to have taken leave after the incident."
A nurse had to wake him as the plane flew to Brisbane during the airport's peak hour.
......the plane lost contact with Air Traffic Control for 13 minutes.
RFDS had been working with Queensland Health to support the nurse, believed to have taken leave after the incident."
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Rostering Practices!
As I said before, I worked for the service for many years and turned 67 whilst still on the normal roster. I had no problems with fatigue so the practice is good.
Everything is in place to protect flight crew from even themselves. There are never any questions asked if I pilot says he is fatigued, so there is just no need to resort to illegal practices.
Everything is in place to protect flight crew from even themselves. There are never any questions asked if I pilot says he is fatigued, so there is just no need to resort to illegal practices.
What makes you think there was no investigation Neville? The incident occurred on November 5, but only made it into the press on November 20.
A number of investigations are under way. Until those investigations are complete, I can't comment further," he said.
Not saying he's innocent but it's a bit rough.....
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Couple of things to think about here. This could be just like 9/11.
RFDS have a very good track record, sure some will find the odd bit hidden in the dark corners of the closet, but overall they have high standards, and high expectations of all their staff. Generally speaking a great operation.
They do not take in just any halfwit with a CPL, so this guy can't have been that dumb, although one wonders now stupid he was.
DAMP = FAIL
Casa if you are watching, that is FAIL.
Just like the moronic security rubbish we all suffer from as a knee jerk reaction to a small problem which was easily solved with just decent security and fitting the doors, we now have a mess.
So, after this rattles around the government and then the media again and so on, it is quite possible that DAMP, despite its best efforts and all the money thrown at it, will likely get an injection of cash to up the anti.
Of course this is great for those employed there, they have a more secure future, but it is a sad reality that no matter how much money and education thrown at this topic, it will fail again, and most likely not even make any improvement.
So look out boys and girls, more stupidity to follow for sure. And more waste of time and money that could be better spent elsewhere.
RFDS have a very good track record, sure some will find the odd bit hidden in the dark corners of the closet, but overall they have high standards, and high expectations of all their staff. Generally speaking a great operation.
They do not take in just any halfwit with a CPL, so this guy can't have been that dumb, although one wonders now stupid he was.
DAMP = FAIL
Casa if you are watching, that is FAIL.
Just like the moronic security rubbish we all suffer from as a knee jerk reaction to a small problem which was easily solved with just decent security and fitting the doors, we now have a mess.
So, after this rattles around the government and then the media again and so on, it is quite possible that DAMP, despite its best efforts and all the money thrown at it, will likely get an injection of cash to up the anti.
Of course this is great for those employed there, they have a more secure future, but it is a sad reality that no matter how much money and education thrown at this topic, it will fail again, and most likely not even make any improvement.
So look out boys and girls, more stupidity to follow for sure. And more waste of time and money that could be better spent elsewhere.
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Coorect Jaba, and further to this the Drug Testing industry has now created a huge income for its self. Recently read that they are making in roads into testing school kids.
The Damp program in my company is costing a lot each year so can imagine the income for these people from the various mandatory testing regimes
The Damp program in my company is costing a lot each year so can imagine the income for these people from the various mandatory testing regimes
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I have been DAMP tested twice in the last 18 months. These were random tests, so it does happen.
I would like to make a comment regarding false positives. When I was being recruited for my current role, I had to attend a private clinic to provide a 'sample' for testing.
The nurse and I joked a little as I filled in the paperwork. The question arose: "do many pilots test positive"? Her response was that very few did and that those who fail DAMP testing tended to be cabin crew.
Upon testing my sample, the nurse's demeanor changed. She said that I had tested positive to opiate use. I denied that this could be the case. Her attitude was triumphant!: she had busted a pilot and she sneeringly informed me that the company would be notified immediately.
I continued to insist that the test result was wrong. She replied that the testing was very, very accurate and that the result was almost certainly conclusive.
At my insistance, I spoke to the Doctor in change of this clinic and asked for a re-test. He examined that test vial and the colouration had now changed from "positive" to "inconclusive". A new test was given to which I tested negative.
I would like to make a comment regarding false positives. When I was being recruited for my current role, I had to attend a private clinic to provide a 'sample' for testing.
The nurse and I joked a little as I filled in the paperwork. The question arose: "do many pilots test positive"? Her response was that very few did and that those who fail DAMP testing tended to be cabin crew.
Upon testing my sample, the nurse's demeanor changed. She said that I had tested positive to opiate use. I denied that this could be the case. Her attitude was triumphant!: she had busted a pilot and she sneeringly informed me that the company would be notified immediately.
I continued to insist that the test result was wrong. She replied that the testing was very, very accurate and that the result was almost certainly conclusive.
At my insistance, I spoke to the Doctor in change of this clinic and asked for a re-test. He examined that test vial and the colouration had now changed from "positive" to "inconclusive". A new test was given to which I tested negative.
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Poppy Seed rolls!
Always wondered why get a craving for one at lunch time.
Maybe it's my imagination but I seem to recall the large jar of poppy seeds in our pantry used for bakery was "unavailable" from the supplier for some time for reasons alleged to be drug related.
A close friend twice and shoulda been thrice Olympian was automatically banned for 2 years, 18 months out of the London ones for traces of a performance enhancing chemical that could only have come from the ingrediants routinely used in some food (FWIW it was an Asian meal) he consumed as a treat but was not on his approved list.
Now I don't condone drugs in any occupation but I would be disappointed if we are going in that direction for the day to day.
Off to make a poppyseed roll for lunch. Might even beef it up a bit with extra seeds
Always wondered why get a craving for one at lunch time.
Maybe it's my imagination but I seem to recall the large jar of poppy seeds in our pantry used for bakery was "unavailable" from the supplier for some time for reasons alleged to be drug related.
A close friend twice and shoulda been thrice Olympian was automatically banned for 2 years, 18 months out of the London ones for traces of a performance enhancing chemical that could only have come from the ingrediants routinely used in some food (FWIW it was an Asian meal) he consumed as a treat but was not on his approved list.
Now I don't condone drugs in any occupation but I would be disappointed if we are going in that direction for the day to day.
Off to make a poppyseed roll for lunch. Might even beef it up a bit with extra seeds
Last edited by gaunty; 23rd Nov 2012 at 00:32.
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As I said before, I worked for the service for many years and turned 67 whilst still on the normal roster. I had no problems with fatigue so the practice is good.
Give me strength...
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Seeing as we are talking about DAMP. I was recently randomly 'selected' to be tested. I was on a morning shift, 6am start, I knew from about 8am that I was to be tested. The test didn't occur until about 1pm (as far as I know it was one bloke doing the testing).
Now if you cutting it a bit fine i.e. having a few beers the night before, you would be more than likely to test positive @ 6am with it wearing off 8,9,10am?
I fully support random drug and alcohol testing, FULLY support it. But if you are going to do it properly, you tap someone on the shoulder and say 'here, breath into this' not give them the opportunity to ingest something as a cover. 'I just cleaned my teeth' 'I just had a poppy seed muffin' which I have seen for sale at our canteen.
Drug takers and alcoholics are sneaky little ****ers. Following a privacy rights regime and under resourcing are easy to beat. A lot of the time people that are caught are the ones that 'want to be caught'
DAMP as it stands is a crock of ****, a box ticking exercise.
Fatigue management is a crock of **** as it stands and is a box ticking exercise.
ASIC's and ASIC controlled aerodromes are a crock of ****, a box ticking exercise and incredibly easy to bypass.
Horrendously expensive and incredibly ineffective. Somebody's making a fortune out of it and the public is feeling all warm and gooey.
Now if you cutting it a bit fine i.e. having a few beers the night before, you would be more than likely to test positive @ 6am with it wearing off 8,9,10am?
I fully support random drug and alcohol testing, FULLY support it. But if you are going to do it properly, you tap someone on the shoulder and say 'here, breath into this' not give them the opportunity to ingest something as a cover. 'I just cleaned my teeth' 'I just had a poppy seed muffin' which I have seen for sale at our canteen.
Drug takers and alcoholics are sneaky little ****ers. Following a privacy rights regime and under resourcing are easy to beat. A lot of the time people that are caught are the ones that 'want to be caught'
DAMP as it stands is a crock of ****, a box ticking exercise.
Fatigue management is a crock of **** as it stands and is a box ticking exercise.
ASIC's and ASIC controlled aerodromes are a crock of ****, a box ticking exercise and incredibly easy to bypass.
Horrendously expensive and incredibly ineffective. Somebody's making a fortune out of it and the public is feeling all warm and gooey.
DAMP as it stands is a crock of ****, a box ticking exercise.
ASIC's and ASIC controlled aerodromes are a crock of ****, a box ticking exercise and incredibly easy to bypass
Spot on with both of those statements Jack but unfortunately I don't think we are going to see any relaxation of either regime in our time.
Last edited by YPJT; 25th Nov 2012 at 11:52.
Should this episode actually be drug related, wait for the DAMP people start sprouting about how their program worked as a pilot was detected.
Trouble is it appears as though it didn't detect anything until after the pilot's passing out raised alarm bells.
Trouble is it appears as though it didn't detect anything until after the pilot's passing out raised alarm bells.
I would test positive for opiates right now.
Three weeks ago - gastroscopy - anesthetic = fentanyl.
Two weeks ago - minor skin cancer surgery - fentanyl followed by panadiene.
Today the last hurdle - colonoscopy
Would I have some explaining to do?
Three weeks ago - gastroscopy - anesthetic = fentanyl.
Two weeks ago - minor skin cancer surgery - fentanyl followed by panadiene.
Today the last hurdle - colonoscopy
Would I have some explaining to do?