Do NOT let a pilot -or any cockpit crew
member- under the influence
fly; even if you are not flying with them, you can still become their
first victim.
If you see
an intoxicated cockpit crew member about to go flying, you are already
involved; do not confront them, but do not
hesitate and immediately report them to the authorities to protect
your life and that of others!
Dangers of Piloting an Aircraft Under the Influence
Pilots under
the influence of drugs or alcohol are simply playing with the lives of their
passengers and crew members and pose a risk to other aircraft and people on
the ground. It is more difficult for pilots under the influence of alcohol
or drugs to process information, assess situations, and make good
choices-all of which are of the utmost importance when operating an
aircraft.
Alcohol is a
depressant and slows the functions of the central nervous system. Normal
brain function slows, and the pilot is unable to function normally. Alcohol
retards the pilot's information processing skills and hand-eye coordination.
Alcohol also
reduces a pilot's physical performance abilities, leading to a lack of
balance and coordination and decreased reaction time. Nearly all aspects of
the pilot's vision are impaired, the effects of which include:
Decreased peripheral vision.
Reduced depth perception.
Decreased night vision.
Poor focus.
Difficulty in distinguishing colors
(particularly red and green).
Operating an
aircraft is very demanding and requires special knowledge and abilities and
perfect vision. For a pilot to be successful, he or she must demonstrate
high levels of cognitive functioning and psychomotor skills, both of which
are impaired by alcohol and drugs.
Pilots are
required to be skilled in tasks such as working in three dimensions,
navigating, and communicating. Regardless of blood alcohol content, these
skills are all the more challenging to master when conducted in an
environment with decreased partial pressure of oxygen, making clarity of
mind an absolute necessity.
Aircraft
travel at much faster speeds than automobiles, boats, or any other mode of
transportation. This means that pilots must be alert and able to demonstrate
excellent judgment, decision-making skills, and memory. Alcohol affects the
body in ways that impair these crucial piloting necessities.
Intoxicated pilots are
NOT FUNNY, they are
EXTREMELY DANGEROUS!
I’ve been
approached by a television producer who is working with Disney Channel on a
project with short segments that profile young people who have made a
difference in their community, excelled in special areas and exemplify
Disney values. The goal of the program is to motivate viewers to achieve
their dreams, increase awareness of various issues and to inspire others to
become active and make their own mark on the world.
For an
upcoming episode, we they are looking for young girls between the ages of
5-16 (in North America,) who are active pilots and dream big. If you can
recommend any girls to be featured on their Disney Channel show, please
contact The Texas Pilots Association at
Young.Aviators@texaspilots.org .
If you are
working with any kids you think would be a good fit for the program, please
ask them if they would like to be nominated, and get back to me with their
story and contact information as soon as possible.
These spots
will air as 2-3 minute mini-documentary pieces all over the Disney Networks
and online for about a year.
Please feel
free to pass this along to anyone else you know whom you think can help
spread the word.
Arrive early. If travelling commercial, the security lines get longer closer to the
departing time.
Make sure that you have all your travel documents ready at hand.
Don't be easily offended. Relax. Listen carefully and
follow instructions. Never try to joke about terrorists, bombs or
weapons. You will end up in a holding room.
Be courteous to the airport employees and security
officers. Thank them for caring enough to perform their jobs well.
Be prepared. If travelling commercial, remember that the TSA
follows the 3-1-1 rule for carry-ons.
Be ready at the X-ray scanning machines, when travelling
commercial aviation, and remember that if you carry a laptop to place it in a
separate bin than those that contain your other carry-on items.
When travelling commercial, dress for today's travel world.
Avoid wearing clothing containing metals that can trigger detectors and
slowdown security lines. Also, take keys,
coins, etc. out of your pockets and place them in an x-ray bin before
walking through security scanners.
When travelling commercial, wear shoes that are easy to
remove and wear, and always wear socks or hosiery. From a hygiene
perspective, you do not want to
stand barefoot on the same floor others may have walked barefoot on too.
Once
at the gate -or passenger lounge at a GA airport- please use one chair
per person! Do not force others to stand because you are taking-up seats for your belongings.
Place your things near you or under your feet.
MOST
IMPORTANTLY, YOU MUST FOLLOW ALL INSTRUCTIONS GIVEN TO YOU BY
THE CREW WHEN ANYWHERE AT THE AIRPORT --ON OR OFF AN AIRCRAFT. ALWAYS BE
CAREFUL AND AWARE OF YOUR SURROUNDINGS PARTICULARLY IF YOU ARE
STANDING/WALKING ON AN ACTIVE TARMAC.
Regardless
of the type of aircraft being flown, whether it is commercial or private,
any pilots under the influence of alcohol or drugs can be charged with an
flying under the influence (FUI).
State, federal, and
Federal Aviation Administration (FAA)
regulations regarding this offense are very severe. For this reason, the FAA
has drawn up explicit rules that regulate alcohol consumption by crew
members of commercial and private aircrafts.
It
is strictly prohibited for anyone to act as a crew member if he or she is
under the influence of alcohol. The FAA states that it is illegal for crew
members to consume alcohol within 8 hours prior to a flight and to have a
blood alcohol content level of 0.04% or higher. Pilots or crewmembers who
violate these rules face serious consequences, including fines,
imprisonment, and the revocation of their pilot licenses.
It
is also important to note that a drunk driving conviction can affect a
pilot's flying privileges. Pilots are required to report any previous DUI
convictions to the FAA, as well as any penalties imposed upon them due to
the conviction. A pilot's flying license can be suspended, and aspiring
pilots can be denied licenses if his or her driver's license has been
suspended two times in the past three years.
Piloting an
aircraft under the influence of drugs or alcohol is an illegal and very
dangerous activity. Many of the laws that apply to driving under the
influence also apply to FUI. In addition to
state and federal laws concerning alcohol consumption and flying, pilots
also have to follow Federal Aviation Regulations, which are determined by
the FAA.
Alcohol is a
depressant that affects the body's central nervous system, impairing a
person's judgment, vision, balance, and coordination. Impairment of these
abilities while piloting an aircraft increases the probability of an
accident.
To identify
possible FUI offenders, the FAA requires random alcohol testing to be
performed on pilots. The FAA also requires alcohol testing for any pilots
involved in accidents to verify whether alcohol was a contributing factor.
Furthermore, pilots have to undergo background checks for past convictions,
specifically for driving under the influence.
Recreational
pilots do not operate a plane everyday, whereas in the United States, many
people use their land vehicles on a daily basis. Naturally, this makes FUIs
particularly dangerous as a result of their inexperience. Also, pilots work
in an environment with decreased partial pressure of oxygen and at
velocities that well exceed the capabilities of cars, boats, or any other
mode of transportation.
Penalties for Piloting an Aircraft Under the Influence
Pilots
are expected to be aware of all the laws concerning flying under the
influence and are subject to severe penalties for transgressions. In
addition to state and federal laws concerning alcohol consumption and
flying, pilots also have to follow Federal Aviation Regulations as
determined by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA).
Many of the
penalties for FUIs are similar to those of DUIs. Common repercussions of FUI
convictions include:
Jail time.
Fines.
Required attendance
at lengthy alcohol education programs.
Flying safety classes
with an additional alcohol education component.
License suspension or
revocation of flying privileges
The penalties depend
on the circumstances of the offense, the offender's police record, and the
state in which the incident takes place, since FUI laws are partially
determined by each state. The severity of the fines and penalties are also
determined by the pilot's blood alcohol content level, whether or not people
were injured, and if there was property damage.
If
a pilot is asked by law enforcement officials to be tested for drugs or
alcohol, he or she must submit to the test according to the implied consent
law. Whether in a car, boat, or aircraft, the person operating the vehicle
agrees to be tested if suspected of driving, boating, or flying under the
influence. Pilots who refuse to take the test automatically have their
license suspended or their flying privileges revoked, which lasts over a
year in some states.
Furthermore,
pilots are required to report any previous DUI convictions to the FAA, as
well as any penalties imposed upon them due to the conviction. A pilot's
flying license can be suspended, and aspiring pilots can be denied licenses
if his or her driver's license has been suspended two times in the past
three years. If a pilot fails to report a previous conviction, he or she
faces a $250 000 fine, imprisonment for up to five years, or both.
If
a pilot reports having a prior DUI conviction, it does not mean that his or
her license will be automatically suspended. However, upon learning of such
a conviction, the FAA usually requires the pilot to undergo substance abuse
or psychiatric evaluations. Upon completion of the evaluation, the pilot may
be required to take part in substance abuse treatment programs or random
drug and alcohol tests.
-Source: DUI Foundation
From The News
Headlines:
A drunken flight navigator contributed to the plane crash
that killed 47 people
(The Moscow Times
and other media sources -September 20, 2011:) The Tu-134 jet belonging to
the airline RusAir (RusAir Flight 9605
-also RusLine Flight 243) slammed into a highway just minutes before it was to land
June 20 at Petrozavodsk airport in northwest Russia. Five people survived.
A
drunken flight navigator contributed to the plane crash that killed 47
people, with his authoritative instructions leading a less-experienced pilot
to attempt a fatal landing in heavy fog, investigators said Monday.
On Sunday, state
television channel Rossiya said experts believe the navigator, who was among
those killed in the crash, had consumed about a glass of vodka shortly
before the flight took off from Moscow (navigator’s blood alcohol level was
0.8‰).
Drunk man runs into propeller
of Vietnam ATR-72
(AvHerald
and other media sources -Oct 14th
2011) A Vietnam Airlines Avion de Transport Regional ATR-72-500, flight
VN-1600 from Banmethuot to Hanoi (Vietnam), was about to taxi off its
parking stand when a man jumped over the barrier onto the apron and ran
towards the aircraft. Although the captain recognized the danger and shut
the engines down the man was sucked into the right engine's propeller. By
shear luck and the quick reaction by the captain the man sustained minor
injuries only.
The aircraft needed to be examined and was able to depart for Hanoi with a
delay of 3 hours.
Flying in real-life is
not like flying a simulator... You CANNOT
"undo" or "pause", and you CANNOT
restart the game.
Keep it real! It is a literal matter of life and
death!
ABC
News - 'What Would You Do?': Drunken Pilots 
Dangers of Piloting an Aircraft Under the Influence
MOST
IMPORTANTLY, YOU MUST FOLLOW ALL INSTRUCTIONS GIVEN TO YOU BY
THE CREW WHEN ANYWHERE AT THE AIRPORT --ON OR OFF AN AIRCRAFT. ALWAYS BE
CAREFUL AND AWARE OF YOUR SURROUNDINGS PARTICULARLY IF YOU ARE
STANDING/WALKING ON AN ACTIVE TARMAC.
From The News
Headlines:
