RogerDorn

As a 22 year old RJ FO, I wouldn't like to say I'm a salesman for Pella Windows and Doors, and we are "here for the convention" OR I am a junior partner at Goldman Sachs and I work in emerging markets.

It makes me sick to see guys my age talking to people about how awesome they are for having a crappy RJ job. There are lots of young people in this country with far more impressive achievements, if you'd even call it that.

Now I'm going to go post a picture of clouds on Facebook with the caption "living the dream" or "best office in the world" BARF!

Ultralight

[QUOTE

It makes me sick to see guys my age talking to people about how awesome they are for having a crappy RJ job. There are lots of young people in this country with far more impressive achievements, if you'd even call it that.

Now I'm going to go post a picture of clouds on Facebook with the caption "living the dream" or "best office in the world" BARF![/QUOTE]

I agree with you. You know its going to be a long month when the F.O. asks you to take a picture of him in the cockpit for his facebook page. It seems that these kind of people are begging for someone to ask them what they do for a living when sitting at the bar.
Usually about that time, they say "I'm a pilot for United, American, U.S. Airaways," or whatever legacy carrier they feed.
Thats about the same time I suddenly remember that I have some important emails to send and head to my room.

A pilot in a bar is always guilty until proven innocent, especially since the "flight" movie.

Another case of C.Y.A. unfortunately.

Ultralight

Well said. I get sick of people accusing anyone who had one too many as diseased alcoholics who need immediate help.

Most of these cases are due to poor judgement and not knowing when to call it a night, not an addiction.

Hopefully this guy has learned a valuable lesson and gets another chance to prove himself. As previously mentioned, he didn't break the regs. Deffinately deserves a talking to though.

MoarAlpha

^ THAT. Don't be ******ing stupid people.

I highly recommend an app to track how many drinks you have had and how long until you will be sober.

Alcodroid App is good.

ACessential

I don't think there is anything wrong with having pride in what we do for a living, and if people ask me what I do outside of work I will tell them honest answers (that I work for a crappy regional X that feeds major airline Y). That being said, on a layover for work is a completely different scenario. It changes the game completely especially when you have a beer in your hand. I find it best to avoid the subject at all costs. Not to mention you come off as a giant D bag to the rest of your crew when you brag about your 14 hr 5 leg duty day and you can still throw down like a rock star at the bar.

Again, outside of work then blab all you want. At work, just keep your mouth shut and seriously folks - if someone asks and you are too slow to think of an alter ego just say transportation or something.

80ktsClamp

At some carriers it's available up until breaking the threshold of the airplane.

shoelu

HIMS most definitely can help you when you show up to work and blow past your company limit, that is exactly what it is for, to help those with an alcohol/drug problem. It may however not help you keep your job.

dingo222

maybe i didn't convey my point clearly. 80kts is correct, in some cases, you can make it almost into the aircraft and still ask for hims and still maintain job protection. Legal or not, this pilot still can go through the program. My point was becuase he was caught, the company may still decide to punish or even terminate. i have no idea what the skywest rules are in this case.


the whole point of hims is to help you keep your job. my intent of the post was to say hims works when you disclose you have an sa issue prior to getting caught. it's like getting busted with an 8 ball in your pocket and then saying you have a coke habit. it is too late at that point. yes, hims will help the pilot either way, but the best outcome is to enters hims prior to an incident. you go through the program, surrender your medical certificate, and get it back under a special issuance once you complete in patient care and other steps. five years later, if you complete every meeting and step of the program, the faa removes the special issuance. hims is a highly regarded and effective sa program.

it is definately a slippery slope with company and faa regs reading different. I have sure as hell had my lapses in judgement over the years. I hope the outcome for this pilot is for the best.

rickair7777

I flew with a guy once who had an American Eagle ballcap that he broke out when drinking on an overnight (this was at mesa).

And for clarity re. SKW...

Less than .04 but .02 or greater (ie any detectable BAC) is a violation of company policy. Mandatory removal from duty, and almost certain disciplinary action. Termination is not mandatory but is certainly possible (perhaps even likely).

SKW has an 8 hour rule...you have more leeway to drink than many or most airlines but you're also responsible for managing it correctly.

SKW has a HIMS program and it is widely advertised and encouraged. If you submit to HIMS before getting caught, there is no penalty of any kind and you go out on disability while doing the program (at no cost). In this guy's case, he can still do HIMS but probably at his own expense since he got caught. He might still be fired but it will be a "suspended termination" pending completion of HIMS.

This of course brings up the usual questions about HIMS...it's intended to help folks with an addiction. But what about somebody who just exercised poor judgement once? Still eligible for HIMS? Should he be? Or should only the "professional boozers" be afforded the protections of HIMS, with no love for the amateurs?

xjtguy

I think an America West hat would would better in that situation