Easy Jet - Drunk Captain
 

This I heard has happened last Saturday Jan 8,2005 in SXF:
After going through security and check in, a female english Easy Jet Captain was asked by some authority personell to please come along to take an alcohol test.I assume that they recieved a tip.
The test showed 1.6 Promille !!
The CoPilot I heard has confessed to have noticed some sighns of alcohol but the young lad he was, descided to be a good boy instead and not say anything.
Needless to say that this flight was canceled for that crew but what surprises me is that nothing came out to the public.
What a headline that would be!
Did anybody hear something or does this stay inside orange rooms?

1 - If this indeed happend, there would be NO WAY that this would stay within "the orange rooms"

2 - 1.6!!! I think with 1.6 most people could not even stand up or even talk...

Any other good story to give the public!??

:yuk: :*

I think it would have hit the press if it was true. There would have been a plane load of Daily Mail readers (if it was going to the UK).who would have been on the phone instantaneously. I really hope it is not true. Not only for the individual, but her airline and the general industry.

Regards

Wide

aouch! If true, I woulden't want to be in her shoes.

Don't understand why the airlines don't put an end to all this by testing all their pilots before they fly. It's seems pretty easy to just have them blow befor flight. I mean sure some poeple would probaly find it intrusive but you have to consider how this puts a bad stamp on all pilots even though it's just a few who have these kinds of problems. Also publicity like this doesn't exactly speak: "flightsafety".

It should also make peopley think once or twice before they "fill up" before flight, knowing that they abolutely will get caught.

I think it´s not quite apropriate to deliver postings like this until an official statement is in the air.
I know, not everybody likes to see EZY in Germany. Who knows what´s realy behind all this-even if it´s true?
So let´s wait for an official statement!

Just a note... this is a completely unsourced rumour (by admission) from a newly registered poster at the moment. Not even a twitch from any official sources. So, perhaps a quick reprise of the red text at the foot of every page of this site would be a good idea.

To wit... As these are anonymous forums the origins of the contributions may be opposite to what may be apparent. In fact the press may use it, or the unscrupulous, to elicit certain reactions.

Prepared to stand corrected, but definitely worth the reminder given the potential seriousness of the issue.

Sick Squid
Rumours and News Moderator

I am an easyJet pilot and although I cannot categorically say this incident did not happen, I can tell you that there has not been one single mention of it at work. That includes the pilots I fly with and also through official company channels such as the intranet site or the crew e-mail system.

I would be extremely wary of accepting this rumour as true until there was some sort of independant verification of it. This is not the sort of thing the company would hide from its employees and if it is true you can rest assured that there will be a whole lot more on it than one thread on PPRUNE started by someone who has never posted before. I for one will reserve judgement until there is more to go on - I am sure that all responsible pilots will do the same.

unplugged, what are you trying to stir?

"a FEMALE ezy CAPTAIN ( oohh, what a scary, scary thaught!!! ) who is drunk to unconsciousness and it doesn't hit the headlines!! because the individual is female!"

ezyjet and the industry trying to disguise it, BECAUSE of the gender? While the Finnair guy, getting all he deserves, she gets away with it!!

Was that your point?

You noticed: all the people who took the trouble to post a reply didn't pick up on "the fact" it was a woman! They are more concerned about the validity of your story.
I am soo pleased, it looks as though we regard each other as individuals who are performing the same job, rather than bickering about gender aso.

Unplugged, remember: although it sometimes doesn't look like it: the intelligence of this audience is above average, here.

May be you're a wannabee, who got rejected by ezy, and you can't stand the fact, they took a girl, instead of you?

Folks,

as pilots we should (especially if pilots, also from other airlines, are involved personally) look for facts!
Maybe there is something to it or not! Even if UNPLUGGED knows more than everybody, it´s no style to bring it up like this!
The question remains: what is your intention, UNPLUGGED?
I would not like to have an FO like you by my side!
Again, let´s wait for an official statement to come or not to come!

According to an alcohol spreadsheet given to me some years ago (and which I accept may not be accurate) a consumption of about 2.5 litres of wine over a period of five hours would just reach 1.6 parts per thousand. Seven hours later the subject would be back down to 0.2 pro mil. Do these figures sound reasonable?

Not sure I'd be happy to do anything more demanding than make a cup of tea after that though :yuk:

I am an EZY pilot and I can confirm it is true; however she was not drunk and incapable, the lady in question smelt of alcohol and was taken aside by SXF security and tested positive.

Removed from flying duties ufn, nothing official from orange towers and dont expect anything unless the tabloids get hold of it!

When will we all learn!

Unplugged
 

Maybe needs plugging again.

oTd

noflare - after this thread I'm sure the tabloids will know about it.

This again shows up the perils of PPRUNE, that unattributable posts are sometimes looked on as malicious when they may in fact be based on reality. Either way it's had the effect that the poster may have intended which is to get it into the "public" arena. As they say this one still has some way to go...

But the tabloids will also forget about it again quite soon.

Remeber: The guy last year in MAN is not worth to speak about anymore but with pprune or other similar forums.

Also nobody is talking about the BA guys anymore, BBC proofed to be drunken the evening before the flight and still having a rest of alcohol at the time of crew-c/i.
....
ETC ETC ETC ETC
...

So lets wait and figure out what happend after getting something official by the german LBA (Aviation Admin).

One possibility I am thinking of is that there a certain medications e.g. that contain alcohol (even the ones you dont expect to) - so maybe she took one of that the evening before hand a a little rest of alcohol.

I also think we do not have to discuss that 1,6 Promille are out of any reality.
As pilots are very restricted in consumption of alcohol,
I would assume most would lay down as if they would have met Mike Tyson before:ouch: after consuming the amount necessary to have such a number.

But anyway - drunken pilots are a danger and dangers have to be eliminated.
So if my possible explanation with medication would be true why didn's she report sick and recovered and broke the rules by intenting to fly under the influence of Medication?


Regards Phil

It would seem that there is truth to this sad rumour...This has just been posted on EZY's intranet news...


STATEMENT REGARDING INCIDENT IN BERLIN


easyJet can confirm that on the 8th of January 2005 one of its pilots at Berlin Schoenefeld Airport was prevented from commencing flying duty on suspicion of being over the alcohol limit.

The pilot was scheduled to operate flight EZY3455 to Basle in Switzerland with 120 passengers due to depart at 06.45 local time. The aircraft was an Airbus 319. easyJet rostered an alternative pilot and the flight departed at 7.09 local time.

Safety is easyJet's highest priority and we pride ourselves on going above and beyond the minimum legal standards. Under UK Civil Aviation Authority regulations, pilots must not consume alcohol for a minimum of eight hours before reporting for duty. However, easyJet's own rules are more stringent and stipulate that pilots must not consume alcohol for a minimum of ten hours before reporting for duty.

Throughout our nine years of operations, we have never before encountered an incident such as this. Should the allegations relating to this incident be proven, easyJet would be extremely disappointed and distressed.

easyJet has suspended the pilot and begun its own internal investigation - as a result we are unable to make any further comment.

Come on Norman Stanley Fletcher, you got to be kidding us! ;)

Oo Err Missus
 

Just to be clear, is 1.6 Promille the level equal to 8 times the UK max? And what is the limit in Germany?

Quite simple:

0,2 promille.

First, would someone care to point to the string of accidents that make this witch-hunt so desireable?

Nope, thought not, as there are hardly any, but pilots being so highly paid and underworked with fabulous social and family lives, it's only fair to come down ultra-hard...

Second, I read with interest the statement 'Throughout our nine years of operations, we have never before encountered an incident such as this.'

Short memories, orange people? Granted, no-one's had their collar felt by the local plod before, but the T&G were remarkably successful in 'defending' one of their members soon after they took an interest in pilot-type people...

...and as for Norman Stanley... Just which planet is he on?

>The test showed 1.6 Promille<

Can anyone please explain to me what this means - never heard of this before - perhaps I should get out more!

Just got back from work and there is a large and sombre notice to confirm that a pilot was arrested in connection with drining prior to flying. I nonetheless retract nothing that I said earlier - it is always best to be sure of your facts before presenting them here under the guise of anonimity. At this juncture, none of the specifics - ie how intoxicated the individual allegedly was - has been verified. Once again I choose to reserve judgement rather than believe the 'facts' as presented here. If the figures given here are correct then the truth will come out soon enough. Also as said earlier, easyJet have made a formal statement and have not hidden the truth from their employees. You can be certain that this is regarded with utter horror by all at easyland. No airline wants publicity of this kind and there will be no mercy from easyJet in their dealing with this individual. If proven guilty, this is well and truly 'game over' for the person concerned.

Quote Astronomy Dominie: "Nope, thought not, as there are hardly any, but pilots being so highly paid and underworked with fabulous social and family lives, it's only fair to come down ultra-hard..."

You must be so full off sh1t that it's unbelievable clearly you are not a pilot therefor what are you doing on this forum.
Perhaps you are a """"manager"""" :yuk: ???.

Firstly: Low cost means overworked and for the hours we do underpaid, furthermore social and family lives are not that great either, but hopefully that will change with our new rostering system.

Secondly: There is not a single pilot in easyJet who would even concider joining T&G, so more than likely you are talking about a Cabin Crew member.

Thirdly: Eventhough I do not know who Norman Stanley Fletcher is, he did write: " cannot categorically say this incident did not happen, I can tell you that there has not been one single mention of it at work. That includes the pilots I fly with and also through official company channels such as the intranet site or the crew e-mail system"

And now the company has come out with an official statement just as Norman Stanley Fletcher suggested.

I think you should be checking what planet you are on as reading does not seem one of the requirements on your planet.

And just to let you know before you unleash more of your bullsh1t; I do not condone drinking and flying and if this female pilot did indeed do so she should be fired on the spot.
There is no excuse as our job has too great of a responsibility to be drinking and flying.

However I would like to say that indeed 1.6 Promille for anyone would be almost unbelievable as I think she would not even be able to walk, let alone report to the crew room and prepare for the flight with more than likely many colleagues right by her side.

I suppose we will hear the outcome fairly soon, and I suggest you stay out of the conversation until that time has come.

Hang on, wasn't AD being ironic?

"It's seems pretty easy to just have them blow befor flight. "

I for one would be happy to be blown before work. On a more serious note here in the US there have been several of the same type incidence, I for one just try not to"imbi" spirits on any overnights. But I am an overly careful with my newly minted ATP

Jobeer

@fireflybob
 

1.6 Promille = out of 1.000ml blood, 1.6 are pure alcohol.


regards

Story is now a huge headline on the front page of the Metro this morning (free paper on London's underground for those lucky enough not to have to use it) - not the greatest paper in the world but read by many.

It's actually just twice the drink-drive limit. So walking would be no problem.

flapless,


Look up the work "sarcasm" before flaming someone who is actually on your side. Trust me, you've made yourself look like the one full of Sh1t!

Not in Germany; 1.6 would actually be more than three times the limit for driving a car and eight times the limit for driving an aircraft.
Legal limit for driving a car over here is 0.5, but you can be sacked when driving with 0.3 and showing signs of unsecure behavior in traffic, whatever that is supposed to mean. As for flying an airplane, limit is 0.2.

Oh dear - its been on Radio 5Live all morning - lots of punters want us breathalysed every trip.....the mind boggles. Why oh why do they have to drag out the usual 'rent a quote' retired BA Concorde Captains every time - oh well, could be worse, could be John Nichol !!

It's in today's Grauniad - quotes a reading of 106mg of alcohol per 100ml of blood - five times the legal limit to fly but 'only' 25% over the UK drink/drive limit.

106mg of alcohol per 100ml of blood
 

??????????????????????

I think the following rules applies to Drivers in Germany ...

"If the border is exceeded of 1,6 parts per thousand, a medically psychological appraisal (kurz:MPU) is due. The appraisal is prescribed legal and does not lie not in the discretion of transport authority."

(altavista translation)

Basically, I suspect it means, if you are caught driving at this level .....

"You must be Crazy!!!!"

Do the maths!
 

'Pro mille' means 'per thousand'. 1.5 pro mille would be .15 percent. A seasoned drinker would hardly notice that blood alcohol level. Walking would be no problem at all, I think. On the other hand you might well show obvious impairment.

Yes, people are mean and unfair to pilots, because they think we are lucky to have glamourous, overpaid jobs. Life is unfair. Get over it, but not by having a few drinks too close to reporting time!

The German MPU (nicknamed 'the idiots' test') is a real nightmare. You even have wealthy Germans spending serious money with dodgy operators of driving schools to show foreign addresses to get a license without having to go through the test. Basically you will have to undergo it for various offences that hint at your having a personality that makes you inherently unsafe (busting the speed limit by a hell of a lot, driving with excess alcohol, etc.).

And just to make things really fun, the Germans operate a system like the USA's, where certain driving offences must be reported when you take your pilot's medical, when you will lose your license. Or else, you don't report, they catch you and then you lose your license.

I used to be a fairly naughty boy. Then I invested a lot of money and effort in getting a pilot's license, when I had to weigh continuing to have fun experimenting with self-medication versus finding myself suddenly grounded, perhaps for good. That was a bit of a no-brainer, really.

How many incidents like this is it going to take before pilots finally realise that drinking any more than one or two standard drinks the night before a flight is just being irresponsible.

A recent case has ended with a pilot paying with his liberty, and a 6 month sentence for the uninitiated will not be all that pleasant.

Leave the partying 'til your days off, it's the only way to be safe, and be sure.

Sound advice indeed.

In Loco world where one works six days, finish late, two days off, start early, one's social life is telescoped into 1 night.

:hmm:

As far as feeling insulted bu the company, pilots should have grown a thick skin by now. :cool:

A big difference is that if you have a few to many beers and still go to work the next day you can still perform you duties in many jobs (with a nice ache in the roots of your hair of course) but NOT as a pilot. It would make sence to test everytime but i would be a bit concerned of the risk of errors? As it is now you have to be observed beeing "not upp to speed" and then that impression is confirmed with a test (breath test isn't it?).

All systems have a error margin and testing a few thousand pilots every day would mean that we would eventually get a inocent pilot accused. not good either.

I really don't think that's reason not to test pilots, just that it's a pretty complicated task

Paracab - you've been listening to Radio 5 Live as well have you?

I appreciate your sentiments are well meant, but if you test all pilots, then surely you should also test Air Traffic Controllers, Engineers, Refuellers, Despatchers, Baggage Handlers, Marshallers and anyone else involved with the operation of an aircraft.

Come to that why not breathalyse every bus driver, coach driver, van driver, car driver, train driver & ship's officer before each journey.

Or even emergency service or military personnel or doctors or surgeons or teachers or bank staff or building site workers or anyone at all before they clock on for their shift.

By law of averages, at least a few people from the above categories will be suffering from alcohol impairment to one degree or another - when did you last have a teensy bit of a hangover when going to work? Did you drive? Were you fit to?

Now, I'm not condoning the behaviour at all, but I suspect that a lot of 40-something or even 30-something pilots will remember the (not so?) old days when the subject was treated with a degree of light heartedness, along with drink driving.

Times and attitudes have changed and it is not acceptable, (it never was, but even more so now); however, a knee-jerk reaction such as breath testing before each flight is not the answer.

What is required is even more education, encouragement and large doses of correctly applied peer pressure, alongside effective and timely medical treatment of those who genuinely have a dependency.

I don't know for sure, but I bet that aviation in general and pilots in particular, are less affected by alcohol related work-incidents than most other industries - it's just that the profile is much higher and the reporting is therefore much more sensational.

There's nothing the media like more than a bit of pilot-bashing - unfortunately we give them the ammunition to do it.

Story in the Guardian:
http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk_news/st...388286,00.html

I am a little surprised that things get this far.

I am not making any comment on this specific incident but surely felllow crew members have a role to play in this situation?

If you suspect that a fellow crew member has over imbibed the night before would it not be prudent to suggest to said crew member that he/she goes sick rather than risking an infringement?