Easyjet pilot flies high
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AFAICT, the subject of this thread admitted to flying when under the influence.
Most alcohol cases are detected before the subject takes control of the aircraft.
How many times has the Easy guy operated when 'stoned'?
Most alcohol cases are detected before the subject takes control of the aircraft.
How many times has the Easy guy operated when 'stoned'?
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He was caught on a wiretap complaining to his dealer about the side effects of a particular ecstasy pill, which made him break out in sweats and behave erractically during an approach. He's admitted to regular use of cocaine, MDMA and cannabis over the previous 18 months.
Before becoming a pilot he worked as a stock trader...
Before becoming a pilot he worked as a stock trader...
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In my 25+ yrs as a professional pilot I was never once subjected to a random drug or alcohol test. After the initial pre-employment tests the issue simply disappeared.
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WHile I'm not condoning nor excusing the behavior how may times a day is a plane landed by a pilot who's got the sweats and shakes from a drinking bout the previous night? I'd venture to say "many"
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While I'm not condoning nor excusing the behavior how may times a day is a plane landed by a pilot who's got the sweats and shakes from a drinking bout the previous night? I'd venture to say "many"
I would say these days there's a fair chance of being caught, and if caught, a virtual certainty of a custodial sentence!
There's also a custodial sentence awaiting any captain who knowingly allows any of his/her crew to operate whilst anything less than 100% sober.
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Christ on the cross people, this isn't a couple too many the night before, dude was on ecstacy. Now I'm sure none of you ever used x in your college years or anything like that (and of course, neither did I), but I'm uh told that if you had you'd know that the next day is not a time to get out of bed, let alone operate an aviation appliance.
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aviation appliance
I've never done ecstasy or the like but I can agree I wouldn't be that happy with a pilot that was under the influence of something of that sort.
Not so light a punishment for a recreational user.
This man chose to operate a revenue flight, while under the influence of an illegal, self selected, non prescribed drug.
He made his bed, he can now lie on it. He knew the rules.
His rehabilitation is another issue, I'd suspect in this case it's for someone other than his employer.
Anything other than zero tolerance would destroy public confidence, and that of the existing workforce.
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Anything other than zero tolerance would destroy public confidence, and that of the existing workforce.
Whilst being a teetotaler and not a drug user myself, I donīt see this sentence to be the least bit fair. There is no way back for this guy and that is NOT okay. Give him a sentence and then - when sober for X-moths/years - allow him back. Testing is available.
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How would you deal with someone who stole from the company, or assaulted a fellow employee (maybe sexually) or had 'paedophile' photographs?
Could they be re-rehabilitated and re-employed after treatment?
Could they be re-rehabilitated and re-employed after treatment?
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G-CPTN, perhaps. It certainly depends on the circumstances and the individuals. I suppose the question is should we attempt to rehabilitate offenders? At least to give offenders a way back.
Punishment is necessary and appropriate, and I don't think anyone here is saying it isn't. But is a life-time ban on commercial flying necessary and appropriate? Perhaps for some individuals but I would be happier if professionals were determining his suitability for commercial flying rather than the court.
Punishment is necessary and appropriate, and I don't think anyone here is saying it isn't. But is a life-time ban on commercial flying necessary and appropriate? Perhaps for some individuals but I would be happier if professionals were determining his suitability for commercial flying rather than the court.
Last edited by ExXB; 7th Aug 2017 at 07:44. Reason: Typo
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Why should he be banned from acting as a commercial pilot ?
Pour l'encouragement des autres.
He was a stock trader before.. he can find work elsewhere. He betrayed a trust.
Pour l'encouragement des autres.
He was a stock trader before.. he can find work elsewhere. He betrayed a trust.
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As far as stress is concerned, stress is a discomfort that compels us to think about conflicting priorities. For pilots, these bear directly on how we balance flight safety with all of our other life issues.
The fact that flying is stressful is not an excuse for getting high. Quite the opposite, it is a key reason that getting high is incompatible with being a pilot.
For some people, once they have started relieving their stress chemically, it becomes a very tempting method of "resolving" any stressful problem. Regardless of whether this condition is treated or not, over years and decades, the most likely result is things like divorce, financial ruin, and suicide.
Certainly any public court judge is very familiar with this - and I have no doubt that this is what the judge had in mind when he prohibited the pilot from continuing his occupation. It's not a issue of punishment, just one of making sure that this pilot didn't take anyone down with him.
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When you throw the book, a few pages are going to get ripped
Regardless of prevalence, or what extent of prevalence, of pilots operating hung-over from alcoholic beverages (though technically compliant with BAC levels) in the past, times change. Just have a quick read of Chair Hersman's separate statement in the Colgan Air NTSB Report, in which she points out how alcohol use once upon a time was not regarded the same way as it is today (in the course of advocating for greater recognition of fatigue as a contributing factor). But about the penalty meted out to a chemically-impaired pilot: the court was quite correct in my view to throw the heaviest volume or tome available at the man. Let him go get rehabilitated and prove he is worthy of reconsideration at some undefined and unspecified point down the road, way down that road. It's a perhaps biblical view; if he were to want to be entrusted again, alright, go work clean and sober and get tested for seven years, and come back with valid documentation proof. And then we'll tell you how many more years you have to conduct that little proof of character exercise before you strap on a commercial jet transport category aircraft appliance again.