PIA pilot tested positive for alcohol in Oslo
 

http://www.aftenposten.no/nyheter/ir...cle1427324.ece
What it says... PIA pilot tests positive for alcohol before 1300 departure
out of Oslo.

Shoot! Took a lot of words just to say that...? :)

Here you go....

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Pilot made a positive breathalizer-test

One of the pilots from PIA, who was supposed to fly passengers to Islamabad, was given a breathalizer-test on saturday morning, and tested positive. The police did the test based on a tip.

Around 40 passengers are now waiting at Gardermoen (ENGM/OSL). Most likely, they will not be going anywhere until a new pilot can be located.
These are not the only passengers affected. In Copenhagen, there is a large group of passengers, that was supposed to be on the same flight, still waiting for information.

Jo Kobro, OSL's Information Consultant, confirms that he knows about the incident, and says that the flight may be delayed until after 01:30.

A positive test.
- We did give the pilot a breathalizer-test, and he tested positive. We have also taken a bloodsample for further analysis, and the pilot will be taken in for questioning, says Pia Grude with Romerike Police District.

Was sick?
Even though the pilot tested positive, PIA management claims that the pilot was not intoxicated, only sick.
If the analysed bloodsample give the same results as the breathalizer, the airline will most likely change their statement.
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:ugh:

O.k translation

A geezer popped a few voddy shots before getting his mits on some iron but the bobbys got him and gave him what for. The peeps had to wait for time.

End of story:p

Certain medicines can do that..

Certainly, but in this case, the tip made to the police was based on the fact that the pilot smelled of alcohol.

Acording to the previously quoted spokeswoman for the police that is:
http://www.vg.no/pub/vgart.hbs?artid=127113


Translates into:
"It may also have been the behaviour, but the tip was primarily based on the pilot smelling of alcohol, Grunde says."


Furthermore, the article states that it was the screeners at a security-checkpoint that noted the smell and notified the police.

It appears that they did indeed find a pilot, as the flight, PK772, landed in Copenhagen at 03:24lt, 25 hours late.... :D

...and according to Norwegian newspapers today, the pilot has admitted to drinking whiskey, but claims he did not intend to fly...

Nutloose: Perhaps it was whiskey intended for medicinal purposes? :hmm:

What? Get the airline to change their statement? :E

Out of interest, what is the legal limit for alcohol in breath for a pilot? E.g. it's 35 for driving, just wondering if flying is lower?

The EU has set a limit of 20mg/100ml as a limit. As a comparison, the UK driving limit is 80mg/100ml. I'm not sure how this is enforced as it is down to the individual Aviation Authorities to administer.

I don't think it's a carte blance to have a small drink before flying, most operators spitulate a time limit from drinking to flying. I think it's a limit to take into account there may be a small residual blood alcohol from drinking before the time limit and also natural alcohol from the fermentation of the stomach contents - if you've just eaten some fruit for example .

Ironicly for Muslims, the origin of the word alcohol is from arabic!

How many pilots has the Adecco people spilled the beans on now? :\
Allmost worth their cost soon.... :p :p ;) ;) ;)

Dan W,

Just to make sure we are comparing apples with apples, the 35 quoted for a car driver is in breath. It's 80 in blood, so the limit for a pilot is one-quarter that for a driver.

And furthur more, just because it was a PIA pilot does not mean he was a muslim, in fact it does not mean he was Pakistani either.

A lot of these misconceptions going around lately so keep an open mind.

An update from the Norwegian newspaper VG.no:
http://www.vg.no/pub/vgart.hbs?artid=127292

The article goes on, stating some of the known things in the case..
- He was tested after a tip.
- He has admitted to drinking.
- He has admitted guilt.
- He claims he had no intention of flying.

So that's what PNF stands for :)

How many non muslim captain do you think PIA has?

I shouldn't imagine they have too many non-muslim, 59 year old FOs either. When I worked in Saudi Arabia it was muted that muslim sobriety was inversely proportional to distance from Mecca. I now live in a muslim country and alcoholism is rife here.
I'm often amused by protestations about precise alcohol limits and times 'bottle to throttle' etc. The way I see it: if a pilot has to worry about his own precise limit and how close he is to 'a line' - he has an alcohol problem and should address it.
Oh and yes, I had and I did and then enjoyed 12 years of completely 'sober' flying prior to my retirement without having to worry about such trivia.

I hope if the pilots association or airline is helping to get the pilot out of Oslo back to Pakistan

According to this http://www.boarding.no/art.asp?id=22957 his alchohol percentage was 0,106%, wich is almost three times above the legal limit in Norway.

Breath is 35mg/100ml breath, it's 80 for blood.