(Fox News) - An American Airlines pilot flunked two sobriety tests before a 7 a.m. flight out of Detroit. An Alaska Airlines pilot flew a commercial plane from California to Oregon and back again, all while allegedly drunk. Yet another pilot, from United, allegedly moonlighted as a pimp, running half a dozen brothels out of apartments in Houston, according to authorities.
"According to FAA data, there is no leveling off or decrease in this trend, in fact drug use seems to be climbing," said Peter Bartos, a retired military pilot with an FAA Airline Transport Pilot license, who reviewed the FAA data for FoxNews.com. “The general public probably has no idea that this abuse is occurring with such regularity at certain airlines.”
Experts say flying in America is extremely safe, and note that of the more than 56,000 alcohol screening tests done by the industry in 2015 for pilots, mechanics, aircraft dispatchers, ground security coordinators, aviation screeners, and traffic controllers, just 119 – or around 0.2 percent - were confirmed at or above the legal limit. Under FAA rules, pilots are not allowed to consume alcohol eight hours before a flight or have a blood alcohol content level higher than .04 percent.
Between 2010 and 2015, FAA records show 64 pilots were cited for violating the alcohol and drug provisions, and in 2015, some 1,546 personnel who must ensure airline safety, including 38 pilots, tested positive for one or more of five illegal drugs.
Let's start here. First and foremost this might be one of the most fear-evoking headlines I've ever read. I was expecting to discover that something like five percent of all commercial pilots were drunk or high at takeoff. Instead only one-fifth of a percent were confirmed to be above the legal limit for flying (which is half of the legal limit in most states for driving), and that number is five times higher than the best estimates for the number of drunk drivers on the roads.
[Side Note - Can we not get together as a nation and end the whole Driving Under the Influence v. Drive While Intoxicated nonsense? It's gotten to the point where I think they might be different crimes. But, then I think it's just kind of a state thing? I don't know. I'm completely up in my on head on this, and it doesn't have to be this way.]
Let's settle this now once and for all. It will be the same charge in all 50 states, and I don't care which one you pick. Just pick ONE. It stands to reason that DUI seems to be more commonly used and we should pick that. However, we seem to want to give the little guy his due these days (Unless of course it's actually giving the little guy his due from the opposite sex), so maybe we go DWI. The point is I don't care. Just pick one and stick to it. I digress.]
The last US-based commercial flight to crash occurred in 2009 when a Continental Connection flight from Newark to Buffalo crashed on approach. The cause of the crash was pilot fatigue, a fact that would allow one to make the argument that it is worse to fly hungover than drunk because being hungover is a billion times worse than being tired. Don't believe me? Well take a seat, kids because you're about to go to school.
A commercial airline crash has NEVER been caused by a drunk airline pilot, according to Kelly Nantel, who seems to be official.
Show me anyone that functions even half as well after three pops than he (or she) does when he's (or she's) hungover. I was so hungover last Saturday that I couldn't even play golf. You know the "sport" that you play better when you're drunk (Fine line here though, I play my best between 2-5.4 drinks per side. However, once I cross the 6 threshold, it's anyone's game. Two screwdrivers (doubles) on the front is the perfect amount of swing oil. However, have you ever met anyone that had two screwdrivers (doubles) and quit?).
Hell, some surgeons take a shot before heading into the OR because it steadies their hand and makes them better at their job. If a pilot takes a shot to steady his hand and make him (OR HER) better at his (or HER), then he's a criminal.
"Well, Jeffrey, just because it hasn't happened doesn't mean it won't."
Another strong point, I concede. My dog hasn't ever taken the wheel, but she likes riding in cars, so who's to say that she won't?
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| She does appear to be eyeing the steering wheel. |
Add this story to the ever-growing pile of evidence that proves that we're out of problems. We're officially worried about something that A)hasn't ever happened in history and B) isn't an actual problem.
Think I'm being incendiary? Show me another profession where only 1 in 500 employees is under a .04 every day on the job. I've been to Google, and they have wet bars in every building just in case...And sorry pastors, the blood of Christ throughout every church in Europe eliminates y'all.
In some cases, commercial pilots have used their travel privileges to orchestrate other crimes, or committed crimes while off duty, and as a result, put their pilot’s certification in jeopardy, according to records reviewed by FoxNews.com.
For example, a United Airlines pilot was apprehended by Texas police March 25 for allegedly running a half a dozen brothels in apartment complexes throughout Houston with up to 60 prostitutes that prosecutors deemed “massive.”
Another commercial airline pilot who holds a U.S. Customs and Border Protection Global Entry Card was arrested Jan 17 at Newark Airport after allegedly attempting to smuggle $195,736 in undeclared currency into the country.
And yet another regional airline pilot was arrested after he was allegedly caught trying to smuggle 60 bags of drugs to Houston from Colombia.
Now let's get to the good stuff. For those willing to throw stones at the United Airlines pilot, I would counter with the single greatest lesson that my dad ever taught that I have never even considered taking to heart - the fastest way to wealth is to find additional revenue streams. You see criminal. I see go getter.
Onto pilots No. 2 and 3. Is anyone actually surprised by this? I was actually surprised to ONLY find two pilots that smuggled. Han Solo is a hero, and these guys are the villains in the eyes of the law. Talk about an unfair standard.
Also, little PR 101, if you are indeed smuggling, make sure that those telling your story are bad storytellers (who have little understanding of story structure and tricked
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