Virgin Atlantic Pilot arrested for being over the limit.

[PoppyAnna]

Pilot was due to fly LHR to JFK and was arrested in the cockpit for allegedly being over the legal alcohol limit for an pilot.
Plane was delayed for one hour whilst Virgin found a replacement pilot, which I thought was pretty fast.
Anybody got any thoughts/worries about this?
We are flying VA in 26 days to MCO, must admit my ears did prick up when I heard the story. I hope its not a VA cultural thing.

 

[angel659]

I wouldnt worry. They were caught so it shows they are looking out for it. I think it would be with every airline company to be honest not just virgin. It probably doesnt happen that often. Dont worry just enjoy yourself.

 

[natalielongstaff]

very scary tho

 

[carolfoy]

it doesn't happen very often but it does happen, and with all airlines.
If you've ever ridden in a taxi/bus/train you have put yourself at much more risk than an aircraft.
It really isn't worth getting upset about, its happened, he'll get suspended, I expect and that's that. It just makes news because of the amount of unnecessary public fear of flying.
As we used to say inthe newspaper industry 'If it bleeds, it leads'

 

[Obi Wan Kenobi]

Lets remember "innocent until proven (or pleads ) guilty" there was a thread on an airline forum about another pilot arrested for the same matter who when taken to court was found not guilty. As this is still unproven and not gone to court we have to be careful what we say, if you get my drift mods?

 

[angel659]

If you've ever ridden in a taxi/bus/train you have put yourself at much more risk than an aircraft.

Totally agree with you there Carol. Oh just to add there is more than one person flying the plane, but a taxi driver there is only one

 

[wickesy]

It made my ears prick up as well considering we are flying with Virgin next week.

I found this interesting though:

Pilots, navigators, flight engineers and cabin crew are subject to a limit of just nine microgrammes of alcohol in breath, compared with 35 microgrammes for motorists.

Taken from BBC News.

 

[Minniespal]

Oh just to add there is more than one person flying the plane, but a taxi driver there is only one

Very true

 

[wayneg]

We once got a connecting flight from Washington down to Orlando, I am sure either the pilot was drunk, a learner or a problem with plane.
I have flown a lot and have no fears of anything in life, but this nutter scared me. we would rise a few hundred feet cut the engines then drift back down 100, then up a few hundred and back down 100, he did this about 10 times. It was also just after Sept 11th. Was glad to land in Orlando.

 

[carolfoy]

virgin have a very strict anti drink and drugs policy throughout all their companies, even my ex colleague who now serves the sandwiches on virgin trains cannot drink for 18 hours prior to a shift starting. They are all subject to random drink and drug tests too.
It makes the news because of how unusual it is.

 

[Cochise]

Lets remember "innocent until proven (or pleads ) guilty" there was a thread on an airline forum about another pilot arrested for the same matter who when taken to court was found not guilty. As this is still unproven and not gone to court we have to be careful what we say, if you get my drift mods?

Was this the AA pilot Obi? Wasn't his arguement that he merely turned up at an airport over the limit and was stopped at security. To be convicted of attempting to fly an aircraft he would have to be basically sat in his seat. If the VS pilot made it to the cockpit then this has more chance of being serious for him.

 

[jockey]

Pilots, navigators, flight engineers and cabin crew are subject to a limit of just nine microgrammes of alcohol in breath, compared with 35 microgrammes for motorists.

It is a very small allowance so he may not have even had a drink within the previous 12/24 hours. Air traffic controllers have the same restrictions also.

 

[MorningGlory]

The 9 mg versus 35 mg caught my attention as well. You could probably get 9mg of alcohol in your blood from eating a fermenting apple.

@ Cochise: I think the incident you are referring to, where the pilot was stopped at security, happened only recently? Or perhaps it was the case coming to court was why it was in the news only recently? And the pilot involved said something like ;I was only trying to get through security to get to the plane, so I could tell the pilot I couldn't make it today' And with his pilot's uniform on also....

As someone mentioned above though, I would feel safer knowing one of the pilot's on my flight was over the limit than, say, the driver of a bus.

 

[Cochise]

The 9 mg versus 35 mg caught my attention as well. You could probably get 9mg of alcohol in your blood from eating a fermenting apple.

@ Cochise: I think the incident you are referring to, where the pilot was stopped at security, happened only recently? Or perhaps it was the case coming to court was why it was in the news only recently? And the pilot involved said something like ;I was only trying to get through security to get to the plane, so I could tell the pilot I couldn't make it today' And with his pilot's uniform on also....

As someone mentioned above though, I would feel safer knowing one of the pilot's on my flight was over the limit than, say, the driver of a bus.

Aye thats the one, he was aquitted.

 

[Goofyish]

Plane was delayed for one hour whilst Virgin found a replacement pilot, which I thought was pretty fast.

There's always plenty in the airport bar to chose from

 

[PoppyAnna]

There's always plenty in the airport bar to chose from

ROFL
Nice one goofyfish.

I'm not unnerved by this arrest at all, I'm a fully paid up member of the "love to fly" club I just thought it was worth opening up for comments.
Wouldn't stop me getting on, or putting my family on a plane

 

[Claire L]

There are always crew on standby at airports for last minute sickness or a 'disater' on the way to the airport ie car broke down, got stuck in a huge traffic jam!

Claire

 

[SimonV]

Outrageous, Tim! But very, very funny

 

[Obi Wan Kenobi]

I am sure that you will all be pleased to know that the charges have been dropped against the Pilot. he was NOT drunk.

 

[Claire L]

Obi thanks thats good to hear

Claire