Drunk swedish pilot freed by court
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In don't wish this guy to be unemployed or even not flying anymore.
The case does raise an interesting point.
If you are walking out of a bar in an intoxicated state in the general direction of the car park, AND you have your car keys in your pocket...can you be found guilty of exercising the privileges of your car driving licence whilst in an intoxicated state?
If you are walking out of a bar in an intoxicated state in the general direction of the car park, AND you have your car keys in your pocket...can you be found guilty of exercising the privileges of your car driving licence whilst in an intoxicated state?
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The case does raise an interesting point.
If you are walking out of a bar in an intoxicated state in the general direction of the car park, AND you have your car keys in your pocket...can you be found guilty of exercising the privileges of your car driving licence whilst in an intoxicated state?
If you are walking out of a bar in an intoxicated state in the general direction of the car park, AND you have your car keys in your pocket...can you be found guilty of exercising the privileges of your car driving licence whilst in an intoxicated state?
The words in the UK are "in charge of a motor vehicle". That could just mean "in the vicinity of". Essentially you have to prove you had no intention of driving it for the court to consider a defence. Always difficult to prove that you weren't going to do something...
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A few years back a US crew had pushed back, but were recalled to the gate for a breath test based on concerns raised by the security screeners. Both blew over limit.
At trial, the defense was that since the tug had not disconnected, technically it was the tug driver and not them operating the airplane.
Nice try.
At least one of them spent several years as a guest of the state.
At trial, the defense was that since the tug had not disconnected, technically it was the tug driver and not them operating the airplane.
Nice try.
At least one of them spent several years as a guest of the state.
Last edited by BobnSpike; 3rd Nov 2012 at 00:23.
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This is a bit of a piss-take no ? he showed for work, signed in somewhere I guess (electronically or with a BIC) used (I assume) his ID rather than a boarding pass to go to the aircraft . . . .and then ? he was going to buy a ticket online & jump in the back ?/he was a closet plane-spotter ? / or he was going to be a member of the crew on the thing ?
Really truly, being a product of a much more forgiving era, I sympathise. . but FFS, he was "goin flyin", so, in this sh1tty politically correct era, if he has kept his pension, he should count himself lucky IMHO.
"Excuse me Sir, how did you gain access to this area,and what are your intentions here ?" Duh ! ! Julian Assange has maybe not so much to fear if this is how Swedish Justice works
Really truly, being a product of a much more forgiving era, I sympathise. . but FFS, he was "goin flyin", so, in this sh1tty politically correct era, if he has kept his pension, he should count himself lucky IMHO.
"Excuse me Sir, how did you gain access to this area,and what are your intentions here ?" Duh ! ! Julian Assange has maybe not so much to fear if this is how Swedish Justice works
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Surely prevention is better! on the Japanese rail system Train drivers have to blow into a breath test machine when signing in for duty first thing.
It would be an easy thing to do the same for pilots going through security airside. Items jackets belts etc through the scanning machine blow into the breath test equipment? Job done no more drunk pilots.
We have to be checked for weapons or anything we may take airside which could threaten the safety of aircraft why not alcohol?
It would be an easy thing to do the same for pilots going through security airside. Items jackets belts etc through the scanning machine blow into the breath test equipment? Job done no more drunk pilots.
We have to be checked for weapons or anything we may take airside which could threaten the safety of aircraft why not alcohol?
Last edited by Pace; 3rd Nov 2012 at 09:10.
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Strange story, why would the police check him during the preflight check? I mean this guy not just had some left over alcohol, this guy was stone drunk with a BAC of 0.96. Why did this guy even show up for work, what about his fellow crew members, why did they not tell him to book off before the flight?
Now about the car laws. In the US you can sleep in the car drunk as long as the key is not in the ignition. Charging a guy because he is asleep in the back seat is ridiculous.
Now about the car laws. In the US you can sleep in the car drunk as long as the key is not in the ignition. Charging a guy because he is asleep in the back seat is ridiculous.
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Strange story, why would the police check him during the preflight check?
To those saying that the Swedish justice system was wrong in not convicting him, do you also advocate people being convicted just for being members of a particular political party (let's say the German NPD, f.e.)?
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Point taken! Hence prevention is a better option. A simple breath test machine at security would stop pilots knowingly boarding a flight while intoxicated or unknowingly doing the same from drinks the night before.
Maybe the Japanese railway system have it right expecting a breath test before hundreds of lives are put into your hands?
Pace
Maybe the Japanese railway system have it right expecting a breath test before hundreds of lives are put into your hands?
Pace
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Could not concur more, although I think blanket checks will be difficult to implement worldwide, ICAO notwithstanding. Hell, we cannot even agree on some sort of common rules of the air system! 
Implementation as part of a company's policy will also be difficult, as the public often has the childish view that if all pilots get checked, then that must be because they're all drunkards. See the childish posts in the thread about the Ukrainian (dead) pilots testing positive for alcohol (post mortem, obviously) for confirmation. Any company implementing such a policy risks a serious negative publicity backlash, when all they're doing is actually increasing the safety of their passengers compared to a company that performs no checks and just waits for the local police to perform them randomly (and most likely, not often enough for cost reasons). 
Implementation as part of a company's policy will also be difficult, as the public often has the childish view that if all pilots get checked, then that must be because they're all drunkards. See the childish posts in the thread about the Ukrainian (dead) pilots testing positive for alcohol (post mortem, obviously) for confirmation. Any company implementing such a policy risks a serious negative publicity backlash, when all they're doing is actually increasing the safety of their passengers compared to a company that performs no checks and just waits for the local police to perform them randomly (and most likely, not often enough for cost reasons).
