Dumb Question: open container in a plane?

killbilly

Vocals, Lyrics, Triangle, Washboard, Kittens
So a couple of my buddies and I are thinking about flying out to Lubbock for a weekend to see a friend of ours. I'd do the flying, they'd be the passengers. One of them asked me this weekend, "Hey, if we go on this trip, is it legal for us to drink beer in the plane while you fly it?"

I didn't know. I certainly would not be drinking while flying, but I didn't know if there were any rules for pax in that regard. I assume they can - you can drink as a passenger on a corp jet, right? Why not in a 172?

Can they do that?
 

Code of Federal Regulations

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Sec. 91.17
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Sec. 91.17

<TABLE width="100%" border=1><TBODY><TR vAlign=top><TD width="100%" colSpan=2>
Part 91 GENERAL OPERATING AND FLIGHT RULES​
</TD></TR><TR vAlign=top><TD width="50%">Subpart A--General</TD><TD width="50%">
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Sec. 91.17

Alcohol or drugs.

(a) No person may act or attempt to act as a crewmember of a civil aircraft--
(1) Within 8 hours after the consumption of any alcoholic beverage;
(2) While under the influence of alcohol;
(3) While using any drug that affects the person's faculties in any way contrary to safety; or
[(4) While having an alcohol concentration of 0.04 or greater in a blood or breath specimen. Alcohol concentration means grams of alcohol per deciliter of blood or grams of alcohol per 210 liters of breath.]<TT>
</TT>
(b) Except in an emergency, no pilot of a civil aircraft may allow a person who appears to be intoxicated or who demonstrates by manner or physical indications that the individual is under the influence of drugs (except a medical patient under proper care) to be carried in that aircraft.
(c) A crewmember shall do the following:
[ (1) On request of a law enforcement officer, submit to a test to indicate the alcohol concentration in the blood or breath, when--]

(i) The law enforcement officer is authorized under State or local law to conduct the test or to have the test conducted; and
(ii) The law enforcement officer is requesting submission to the test to investigate a suspected violation of State or local law governing the same or substantially similar conduct prohibited by paragraph (a)(1), (a)(2), or (a)(4) of this section.
[(2) Whenever the FAA has a reasonable basis to believe that a person may have violated paragraph (a)(1), (a)(2), or (a)(4) of this section, on request of the FAA, that person must furnish to the FAA the results, or authorize any clinic, hospital, or doctor, or other person to release to the FAA, the results of each test taken within 4 hours after acting or attempting to act as a crewmember that indicates an alcohol concentration in the blood or breath specimen.]<TT>
</TT>(d) Whenever the Administrator has a reasonable basis to believe that a person may have violated paragraph (a)(3) of this section, that person shall, upon request by the Administrator, furnish the Administrator, or authorize any clinic, hospital, doctor, or other person to release to theAdministrator, the results of each test taken within 4 hours after acting or attempting to act as a crewmember that indicates the presence of any drugs in the body.
(e) Any test information obtained by the Administrator under paragraph (c) or (d) of this section may be evaluated in determining a person's qualifications for any airman certificate or possible violations of this chapter and may be used as evidence in any legal proceeding under section
602, 609, or 901 of the Federal Aviation Act of 1958.
 
Can have an open container on a plane so long as you, the pilot, are not drinking out of it. How else would we sell those $7 minis???
 
Yeah, that's what I thought. I figured it was legal. Just kind of interesting that it's legal in a 172 for passengers to drink a beer, but it's not legal in a car.
 
Yeah, that's what I thought. I figured it was legal. Just kind of interesting that it's legal in a 172 for passengers to drink a beer, but it's not legal in a car.

Well, in FL, as long as you have a commercial driver's license, your passengers can have open containers. (Limo/town car/bus/etc) Even if you don't, it is a non-criminal, non-moving traffic violation, punishable by a fine.
 
So a couple of my buddies and I are thinking about flying out to Lubbock for a weekend to see a friend of ours. I'd do the flying, they'd be the passengers. One of them asked me this weekend, "Hey, if we go on this trip, is it legal for us to drink beer in the plane while you fly it?"

I didn't know. I certainly would not be drinking while flying, but I didn't know if there were any rules for pax in that regard. I assume they can - you can drink as a passenger on a corp jet, right? Why not in a 172?

Can they do that?

Is it legal? I don't know of anything that says it isn't. Is it safe? You're the PIC, do you want your passengers under the influence of alcohol/drugs in the event of an emergency? I certainly wouldn't. I would simply explain to them that you would prefer they didn't consume alcohol in the unlikely event something serious happens that may require their unimpaired judgement for a safe outcome. The alcohol will effect them more at altitude more than at sea level. Their possible and somewhat impaired judgement may make them a distraction in such close proximity to you and the controls. People react differently to alcohol...a small aircraft is no place to find this out.

Besides that, I would encourage them to drink something that would keep them more hydrated rather then something that increases dehydration. Leave the beer for the destination dinner or while sitting around the pool.
 
Besides that, I would encourage them to drink something that would keep them more hydrated rather then something that increases dehydration. Leave the beer for the destination dinner or while sitting around the pool.

With the 172 lacking bathrooms, beer may not be all that practical... That's why beagle likes his whiskey when flying :)

(joking - the dog doesn't drink or fly for that matter) While there aren't any FARs prohibiting it part 91 (part 121 requires a crewmember to serve alcohol), whoever you are getting the plane from may see things differently.

If they insist, let them know some negative G's are coming and see if they wet their pants. :sarcasm:
 
It is illegal to fly someone that's intoxicated though right? Kinda wondering since I was in a discussion with some people at work who said it was up to the PIC. I'm pretty sure it is illegal, just making sure I understand the FAR.
With the 172 lacking bathrooms, beer may not be all that practical...
Or pepsi. I thought I was gonna piss myself on a cross country today. I think I set a new speed record for the 150 trying to get back. :D
 
Is it legal? I don't know of anything that says it isn't. Is it safe? You're the PIC, do you want your passengers under the influence of alcohol/drugs in the event of an emergency? I certainly wouldn't. I would simply explain to them that you would prefer they didn't consume alcohol in the unlikely event something serious happens that may require their unimpaired judgement for a safe outcome. The alcohol will effect them more at altitude more than at sea level. Their possible and somewhat impaired judgement may make them a distraction in such close proximity to you and the controls. People react differently to alcohol...a small aircraft is no place to find this out.

Besides that, I would encourage them to drink something that would keep them more hydrated rather then something that increases dehydration. Leave the beer for the destination dinner or while sitting around the pool.

These are good points, actually. Thanks.
 
I don't know, the rule says intoxicated or under the influence. You've got to have a .08 in order to be considered under the influence if you're driving, so does that mean that if you blow a .07 as a passenger, you're not considered under the influence?

My problem would be that if they're drinking, it may be concluded that I'm drinking, too.
 
Yeah, that's what I thought. I figured it was legal. Just kind of interesting that it's legal in a 172 for passengers to drink a beer, but it's not legal in a car.

I lived in Texas back when it WAS perfectly legal to have open containers in your car, scary stuff, way too convenient. I think they changed the law back in 2001.
 
Can have an open container on a plane so long as you, the pilot, are not drinking out of it. How else would we sell those $7 minis???

Keep in mind that 121 carriers usually have a license to sell booze. Google the fight between the State of New Mexico and US Air about them not having a license to sell in New Mexico. I believe that at one point, when the planes were within the state boundries, they weren't allowed to sell.
 
In Virginia, you can get an open container for walking with an open beer across an apartment parking lot.

The lack of a lavatory on the 172 may be an issue
That's one. My other is that most of my friends act ridiculously if they actually get drunk. If they don't, it's not a problem, but I'd prefer to avoid the situation entirely. If someone reached up and started yanking on the yoke, it could cause a problem.
 
Oh please. A few brewskies will just limber them up to survive the inevitable crash. ;)

You've obviously flown with me, then. :)

Speaking of which...I'm gonna be in STL in a couple weeks. Let me know your schedule.

Anyway - back to the topic at hand. My buddies are fairly responsible guys - we're all in our mid-to-late-30s and don't really go on benders or anything anymore. LBB isn't that long of a flight (depending on wind) so I don't see a problem with letting them have a couple in the airplane.
 
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