MFT1Air
Well-Known Member
. . .but his "narratives" are entertaining. Curious now what the actual conviction rate is.
Southwest pilot arrested in SAV
- Thread starter Puckgoalie
- Start date
. . .but his "narratives" are entertaining. Curious now what the actual conviction rate is.
Cherokee_Cruiser
Bronteroc
So is this still an interview question? WWYD if your CA shows up drunk / smelling alcohol?
I was told in my day (18 yrs ago) the answer was: first, don’t assume it’s alcohol, some medication can smell weird. Second, tell him that you smell it and he needs to call in sick. If he refuses, then you call in sick yourself.
Looking back, that’s wild. Talk about covering it up.
I was told in my day (18 yrs ago) the answer was: first, don’t assume it’s alcohol, some medication can smell weird. Second, tell him that you smell it and he needs to call in sick. If he refuses, then you call in sick yourself.
Looking back, that’s wild. Talk about covering it up.
That’s actually a severely bad answer during an interview.
You’d suggest the captain lie. And if he doesn’t misrepresent the truth, you’ll misrepresent the truth instead.
“Your FO called in sick, we’ll have a replacement FO for you in an hour”
“OK” *hiccup*
You’d suggest the captain lie. And if he doesn’t misrepresent the truth, you’ll misrepresent the truth instead.
“Your FO called in sick, we’ll have a replacement FO for you in an hour”
“OK” *hiccup*
FlyingAccountant
Well-Known Member
I drive through that area at least twice per year on road trips and it's easily one of the most depressing places I've ever been. The hopelessness and despair is real and it's obvious everywhere there.
I grew up outside of STL and took the train through East St. Louis every day on my way to work for a decade, so I'm not exactly ignorant on the topic either.
I can do you one better. A few years ago, a local politician was arrested in his underwear, in his bed. How do I know? The police filmed it and gave the video to the local news. The news aired the video on TV. Talk about a way to humiliate the man and his family on state-wide news, and possibly bias a jury. Guilty or not, the public should have never seen that arrest.
MFT1Air
Well-Known Member
There would be an intervention. Call it a "challenge." Call it a concern? ARE YOU OKAY? Either way, there'd be friction. Gut instinct would be for him to volunteer to me perhaps he's feeling like he might be developing a case of appendicitis and perhaps he needs to sit this one out. He or she had better find a spiritual being to do the right thing.
I only wish two things in life. Peace and respect. You choose your actions; If I'm involved, I'll provide the options. Hopefully, it'll be a win win.
Strictly a hypothetical.
Cherokee_Cruiser
Bronteroc
So WWYD?
What would I drink? Ooh, maybe a club soda. Refreshing!
But seriously, work it out like a professional. Clearly profess your concern, tactfully suggest options and then follow the FOM when it comes to suspicion of intoxication.
I’ve had a passenger accuse me and the captain, years ago, of being drunk. We followed the procedure.
Inverted
mmmmmm wine
Listen...
We all know what Mentos smells like, and we know what beer and Jack Daniels smell like. If somebody comes on oozing JD from their pours, I think calling it in is the only thing you can do.
Telling somebody to call in sick and go home is just passing the buck onto the next victim.
MFT1Air
Well-Known Member
Factor in the "code of silence" as well. . .<people include that in their "professions."
In most all "teamwork" environments where loyalty and truth matter, everyone has a line in the sand they will not cross. Fact. Even the "cheating" spouse situations, do I proactively rat the cheater out to the significant other. I mean. . .I "heard" <won't pull up any ChatGPT data to support a premise>, divorce rates amongst the aviation profession is high. Why? No clue. My point? We have standards of behavior in life. Step across those lines? Be prepared for the consequences.
I have to go back to the movie "Flight" with Denzel. That movie, for the non aviator, layperson types truly made the flight deck personalities more human. . .more empathetic about who is on the flight deck. Part 121 folks have families. They are real people. Seriously. . .
Strolling through the airport as crewmembers remnds me of New York city sidewalks fluidity. Quiet, stoic, determined, focus, serious. . .symbols of strength and professionalism. The movie portrayed 121 as one of us. . .most of us frankly. Yall are good. GREAT. However, it's not an absolute.
Part 121 folks? In and out the hotels. . .It's as if you're professional athletes leaving the hotel to head to their sporting arena. Not talkative to anyone. Close quarters. One or two MIGHT interact outside the team, but. . .there's always one. If something is off-nominal, yall would know first and say something. . .right? Says the crew to Denzel before he walked onto the flight deck:
What is your professional (or other) aviation background?
Cherokee_Cruiser
Bronteroc
Honest question, when you say calling it on, call who? ALPA HIMS? Pro Stans? Management? Police?
Never had this happen yet. I only studied for an interview and was advised the proper answer was to tell them they would have to call in sick and get them removed from trip.
Richman
JC’s Resident Curmudgeon
I have to think in this situation, you’re just completely boned. You get pulled over late at the end of a trip, being up for 14-16 hours, or maybe after a redeye, so you’re already looking pretty beat.
Apparently it no longer matters if you’re blowing zero or not. You’re going to the pokey and the local five oh will just let the judge sort it out.
Sure, you can sue the PD, maybe, just maybe get some kind of recovery, but you’ll be dealing with the Feds for the rest of your career. Whatever cash you can squeeze out of Turdston Towneship after legal fees won’t be enough to salve that royal hosing.
I’d say that sucks worse than losing your roll you were going to blow on that pristine Allis Chalmers that the farmer down the road wants to sell you, but the cops laid civil forfeiture on you, but that’s pretty bad too.
Perverse incentives and all.
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///AMG
Well-Known Member
I agree with what you are saying here, but I think this guy was pretty well housed. Like alcoholic high tolerance version, can kinda talk normal in clipped sentences and maybe struggle through a FST. But they kept commenting on how badly he smelled of booze, and the crew apparently had him drinking a couple hours before report (minus the FO I guess). Don't know if that is true, and I won't suggest hearsay is truth, but the dude didn't strike me as sober either. I don't think he really got "boned" here. I'd guess this wasn't the first time, other than the first time he got caught.
One simply doesn't "Call Hims"
It's shocking that a captain wouldn't know how to handle this situation. It may happen to you tomorrow with a crewmember and you'll have to solve problems on the fly.
Cherokee_Cruiser
Bronteroc
I know how I would handle it. I would have him removed from duty, by him calling out as not “fit to fly.” And then I would follow up with one of the few trusted ALPA folks I know in order to figure out the next steps for that guy and that situation. Using all available resources.
You already saw my first post in this thread and you told me to “tone it down” in case there were members who were trying to get help. I know exactly where I stand on this issue, I have zero tolerance for drunks and those who would jeopardize the lives of other innocent people.
Richman
JC’s Resident Curmudgeon
I guess I should have been more clear. Like most of JC, I was trying to get into some serious thread drift. Rather on this specific case, I was commenting on what seems to a rash of people who get arrested for DUI while perfectly sober.
MFT1Air
Well-Known Member
Law enforcement, military, and NASA. I trained astronauts. I also teach STEM. All are tied either directly or indirectly to aviation.
Why do you ask?
Inverted
mmmmmm wine
I haven't been in this situation either, so maybe I am being a bit ivory tower on this, but showing up smelling like alcohol means you are DRUNK. I think there are tons of pilots on here who have flown after a night of partying and have been suffering from the residual effects (tired, headache etc.) but this is way more egregious and tangibly illegal. Suffering residual effects won't show up on a breathalyzer, but being drunk is against FARs, company policy, and is measurable. I think pro stans is probably the place to call. I am not the nark type at all, but we are talking about basically one of the most serious offenses we can commit as pilots. HIMS is for the offending pilot to pursue. BCP or Pro Stans is really the move.
It would be one of the most uncomfortable calls to make, that is for sure.
Have there been examples of friends flying together, and one pilot noticing that the other pilot might have tied one on a little too hard the night before, and told them to leave and call in sick? I have no doubt in my mind that it has happened countless times.
Context for your posts.