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BA pilot sacked for snorting coke from, err, well...and then trying to fly home.

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BA pilot sacked for snorting coke from, err, well...and then trying to fly home.

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Old 1st Oct 2023, 19:39
  #121 (permalink)  
 
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Originally Posted by RichardJones
"One moments thoughtlesness can cause a life times regret" comes to mind.
This lad has paid a very high price as already mentioned. He made a mistake. We have sll made mistakes and done silly things and will continue to do so.
Let this be a lesson to us. All.
At least his mistske hasn't killed anyone. I hope he receives treatment for his possible addiction and proffessional help. He could be at risk of suicide
I hope BA get him the help he will need. Or will he be just thrown to the wolves?
Hopefully the latter, he is a disgrace to his profession!
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Old 1st Oct 2023, 19:42
  #122 (permalink)  
 
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Angry

Wow, works in a career that many dream of being in for one of the most prestigious companies in the world and he doesn't have the patience to say "I'm alright thanks" and snort coke off some bird's tits in London 24hr later instead! Shame on him.
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Old 1st Oct 2023, 19:59
  #123 (permalink)  
 
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More from The Sun about the Wizz interview:

https://www.thesun.co.uk/news/242187...aton-wizz-air/

An undated online CV (unedited with typos) - Mike Beaton;

I'm Currently living in East London. My time is divided between flying, BALPA duties, AviationShake development and about a gazillion hobbies.

I've been a comercial pilot for nearly 4 years, and in a previous life I was a lead developer for a small data analytics firm in Peterborough. My experience of web technologies, and my unbridled passion for aviation led to my teaming up with Jagoda Markowiak and starting AviationShake early in 2013. Things are moving quickly and these are exciting times.

I've been a member of the British AirLine Pilots' Association (BALPA) since the very first day I joined an Airline and, late 2012, I was asked to join the negoiating body within BA CityFLyer. Our remit is industrial relations, including pay, working conditions, flight and duty time limitations plus a plethora of ancillary issues and projects. The work is both challenging and complex. Just the way I like it.

For fun I have mountain bikes, cameras, computers, cricket kit, model aircraft, a squash racket, running shoes, a tent, hiking boots, lots and lots of books - and possibly most significantly, a local Pub.



AviationShake do this:

https://www.aviationcourses.com/cour...tion-skype-446

Last edited by radlettrejoin; 1st Oct 2023 at 22:19.
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Old 1st Oct 2023, 22:29
  #124 (permalink)  
 
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A comercial pilot eh? Says it all really...
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Old 1st Oct 2023, 23:47
  #125 (permalink)  
 
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Originally Posted by radlettrejoin
I'm Currently living in East London. My time is divided between flying, BALPA duties, AviationShake development and about a gazillion hobbies.

I've been a comercial pilot for nearly 4 years, and in a previous life I was a lead developer for a small data analytics firm in Peterborough. My experience of web technologies, and my unbridled passion for aviation led to my teaming up with Jagoda Markowiak and starting AviationShake early in 2013. Things are moving quickly and these are exciting times.

I've been a member of the British AirLine Pilots' Association (BALPA) since the very first day I joined an Airline and, late 2012, I was asked to join the negoiating body within BA CityFLyer. Our remit is industrial relations, including pay, working conditions, flight and duty time limitations plus a plethora of ancillary issues and projects. The work is both challenging and complex. Just the way I like it.

For fun I have mountain bikes, cameras, computers, cricket kit, model aircraft, a squash racket, running shoes, a tent, hiking boots, lots and lots of books - and possibly most significantly, a local Pub.
Sounds to me as someone living in overdrive, either being blessed with a health/metabolism running happily in overdrive, or else needing a line of 'booster' every now and again.
From my own experience, I find it shocking that an occasional 'line' becomes more and more socially accepted in younger generations (outside of aviation).
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Old 2nd Oct 2023, 01:00
  #126 (permalink)  
 
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the little brain between their legs completely over-rules the big brain in their head
That's because men only have enough blood to run one at a time.
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Old 2nd Oct 2023, 01:17
  #127 (permalink)  
 
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I’m sure we’d all rather not have the reporting culture of a certain ME big 3 airline where the cabin crew are encouraged to spy on and actively report on flight crew for any minor transgression.

By all means report incidents like this but I don’t want someone looking over my shoulder the whole time I’m at work. Enough backstabbing goes on already.
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Old 2nd Oct 2023, 01:43
  #128 (permalink)  
 
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Originally Posted by Abrahn
I don't know about the BA assessment process, but an ATPL is a fairly middling achievement - below the standard required of, for example, a nurse, paramedic or physiotherapist and about level with an osteopath.
​​
If you look at the census statistics that puts an ATPL holder somewhere in the bottom 50%-65% of the over-16 English population, i.e. just above average.
I think it’s bloody amazing you’re a qualified Nurse, Paramedic, Physiotherapist, Osteopath AND ATPL license holder in order to make these comparisons. Well done. 😜
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Old 2nd Oct 2023, 09:05
  #129 (permalink)  
 
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BA pilot sacked for snorting coke from.err,well..and then trying to fly home

I see my earlier question was answered. Thought so. Boasting to all and sundry, including current and ex's. Obviously needed a pat on the back.

Of wider interest, to me, says a lot about widening the net and opening doors. BOAC and BEA were choice. They merged. It was called BA. There was BA Overseas division and dear old BA European Division. Separately formed was BA Regional division. That opened a backdoor for people who were really Cambrian and Northeast.

Point of all this ? This chap is described as a BA pilot.

Reading his CV, looks like a so-called "self improver" who got into BA City Flyer. You can paint BA on the side of anything but you might not be of the old, direct school.

Probably hurt a lot of BOAC bods to change their wings to BA. This Guy, being reported as a BA pilot probably hurts a lot of the old-school, real BA pilots.

Oh, I was Northeast. Loved changing my uniform to BA but at BEA Uniform Store where I first got my BKS wings. Loved being called a BA pilot but felt a bit of a fraud as I failed part one of Hamble selection for BOAC/BEA.( Still don't talk proper and eat peas wiv me knife)

All in all, gives a bad impression of the corporate identity.
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Old 2nd Oct 2023, 09:16
  #130 (permalink)  
 
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Thought you lot only ate mushy peas…I know how best to eat cockles with a wooden fork..
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Old 2nd Oct 2023, 11:49
  #131 (permalink)  
 
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This guy clearly made a series of catastrophic, idiotic, dumb, indefensible decisions and has paid for it dearly.

Undoubtedly going through utter humiliation, front page of tabloids around the world and his face shown in disgrace on news channels broadcasts. Everyone who knows him personally and professionally discussing his stupidity.

Call me a bleeding heart liberal but if there's any place where he might receive a tiny but of compassion, it would be here, amongst his peers. Yes what he did was completely indefensible but due to the extreme nature of it I wonder if mental health issues played a part.

His life is destroyed already, I'm not personally rushing to stick a knife into him further and I hope he sorts his life out and doesn't end up back on the front page of the newspapers in tragic circumstances.
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Old 2nd Oct 2023, 11:56
  #132 (permalink)  
 
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Originally Posted by RichardJones
"One moments thoughtlesness can cause a life times regret" comes to mind.
This lad has paid a very high price as already mentioned. He made a mistake. We have sll made mistakes and done silly things and will continue to do so.
Let this be a lesson to us. All.
At least his mistske hasn't killed anyone........
A pilot taking coke and alcohol whilst on duty laying-over, is not a "mistake", it is a deliberate action. "I meant to have a cup of tea but I accidentally snorted some coke instead".......!!!!!

A mistake is reading back the wrong frequency or accidentally trying your hotel keycard in the wrong door, i.e. an inadvertent and undesired error. Deciding to have a romp with illegal drugs is very far from being a mistake, it is a deliberate action.

Quite how any pilot would think this was suitable and sensible behaviour before a duty baffles me. His "mistake" could certainly have killed many people had he operated back whilst fatigued and drugged up.

Taking illegal drugs would be bad enough off-duty and at home, but while on duty and down route......?

How did the assessment process - with all its modern psychometric tests and ever more hurdles to jump over - fail and miss this trait in this person ?
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Old 2nd Oct 2023, 12:37
  #133 (permalink)  
 
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Originally Posted by Gordomac
I see my earlier question was answered. Thought so. Boasting to all and sundry, including current and ex's. Obviously needed a pat on the back.

Of wider interest, to me, says a lot about widening the net and opening doors. BOAC and BEA were choice. They merged. It was called BA. There was BA Overseas division and dear old BA European Division. Separately formed was BA Regional division. That opened a backdoor for people who were really Cambrian and Northeast.

Point of all this ? This chap is described as a BA pilot.

Reading his CV, looks like a so-called "self improver" who got into BA City Flyer. You can paint BA on the side of anything but you might not be of the old, direct school.

Probably hurt a lot of BOAC bods to change their wings to BA. This Guy, being reported as a BA pilot probably hurts a lot of the old-school, real BA pilots.

Oh, I was Northeast. Loved changing my uniform to BA but at BEA Uniform Store where I first got my BKS wings. Loved being called a BA pilot but felt a bit of a fraud as I failed part one of Hamble selection for BOAC/BEA.( Still don't talk proper and eat peas wiv me knife)

All in all, gives a bad impression of the corporate identity.
I know exactly what you mean. Things really changed. We have our Hamble 50th next year, but they have wrecked the village identity, but left the pubs alone !
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Old 2nd Oct 2023, 15:40
  #134 (permalink)  
 
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Originally Posted by DIBO
Sounds to me as someone living in overdrive, either being blessed with a health/metabolism running happily in overdrive, or else needing a line of 'booster' every now and again.
From my own experience, I find it shocking that an occasional 'line' becomes more and more socially accepted in younger generations (outside of aviation).
Unfortunately Dibo, that is the language of the millenial marketing types. They are either “super-pumped” or “totally stoked” about something, or “traumatized” when that something doesn’t work out.
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Old 2nd Oct 2023, 16:18
  #135 (permalink)  
 
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Originally Posted by Right Engine
I think it’s bloody amazing you’re a qualified Nurse, Paramedic, Physiotherapist, Osteopath AND ATPL license holder in order to make these comparisons. Well done. 😜
I suppose you have yo have a certain level of academic qualifications from school to be accepted to Nursing School etc, as some have said on here they have left school at 14 and still made it to the LHS of a heavy. I know it's a cliche but its always said that having a bank of mum and dad and proof of funds is more important to flight schools than academic ability but who knows.

In the RAF pilot/officer training is reduced if you have a college degree. The same in the USA, the 1,500 requirement is reduced if you have a college degree. I think it is an American thing, having a college degree to get a good job, which has found its way across the atlantic. Many professional and government jobs require a college degree, it doesn't matter what subject, any degree would suffice. When the FBI and CIA were being set up it was a stipulation that all candidates must possess a 4 year college degree which still holds true today. I would imagine that being a CIA or FBI officer would be a highly desirable job and having a university degree would be a first round filter to reduce applications to a manageable level.

Having a university degree doesn't set you apart but it does provide a filter for oversubscribed professions, I can imagine being a CIA or FBI officer would be a desirable job
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Old 2nd Oct 2023, 16:41
  #136 (permalink)  
 
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Hamble 50th 2024

Originally Posted by Right20deg
I know exactly what you mean. Things really changed. We have our Hamble 50th next year, but they have wrecked the village identity, but left the pubs alone !
Not sure about that. The White Hart pub in Hamble had been ruined inside with bright cool white fluorescent lighting, when I visited years ago. Was it the 25th?
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Old 2nd Oct 2023, 18:57
  #137 (permalink)  
 
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Originally Posted by a797
This guy clearly made a series of catastrophic, idiotic, dumb, indefensible decisions and has paid for it dearly.

Undoubtedly going through utter humiliation, front page of tabloids around the world and his face shown in disgrace on news channels broadcasts. Everyone who knows him personally and professionally discussing his stupidity.

Call me a bleeding heart liberal but if there's any place where he might receive a tiny but of compassion, it would be here, amongst his peers. Yes what he did was completely indefensible but due to the extreme nature of it I wonder if mental health issues played a part.

His life is destroyed already, I'm not personally rushing to stick a knife into him further and I hope he sorts his life out and doesn't end up back on the front page of the newspapers in tragic circumstances.
I’m not too sure how people on this Board could actually be classified as ‘peers’ these days.
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Old 2nd Oct 2023, 20:38
  #138 (permalink)  
 
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Sympathy? No. It isn't just mis timing a last drink, snorting Class A (off whatever surface) and bragging about it in writing is about as bad as it comes. But he paid the price when he got the sack & had his medical pulled.

Having his name dragged through the papers is, in my opinion, far too much. Every time he goes for a job & tries to get his life back together, even outside Aviation, his misdeeds are just a Google search away. He has my sympathy in that, sole, regard.
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Old 2nd Oct 2023, 20:47
  #139 (permalink)  
 
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Originally Posted by Uplinker
How did the assessment process - with all its modern psychometric tests and ever more hurdles to jump over - fail and miss this trait in this person ?
Because the tests are flawed, period. Too much theory these days. I've known, what I would refer to as a psychopath and some nasty pieces of work, slip through the net. Independent coaching is available to assist in getting through.
Keep it simple. One of the best ways to spot possible undesirable traits etc, is to get them into a "social environment. Take:m all down to the pub! 😊

Last edited by RichardJones; 2nd Oct 2023 at 22:00.
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Old 3rd Oct 2023, 08:06
  #140 (permalink)  
 
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Originally Posted by DIBO
... I find it shocking that an occasional 'line' becomes more and more socially accepted in younger generations (outside of aviation).
I don't have any personal experience here, but I do understand from recent news articles that class A drugs are becoming as 'normal' and 'accepted' in younger generations as alcohol was when I was a bit younger. Apparently it is a normal thing to do to order a few lines/pills/whatever you fancy to support a party, have a good weekend and basically shut your brain down for a couple of hours before taking on the next week of advancing your career. Another 'modern' thing is of course bragging/publishing/sharing everything you do on the internet. The method and platform regularly changes but the norm here is that it didn't happen unless you shout about it from the rooftops to everyone on your contact list and your boss's mum. I'm just wondering how much of those modern mindsets is conflicting with the old style mindsets that others in the industry still have (not judging either way), and the safety mindset that you should have if you're put in a responsible position at the pointy end.
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