Pilot charged over drink claim

BBC NEWS ^ | 2003/12/20 | Unsigned

[aculeus]

A Virgin Atlantic pilot has been charged with attempting to operate an aircraft while intoxicated.

Four hundred passengers have been stranded in the United States after the pilot was detained by police shortly before he was due to fly.

Captain Richard Harwell, an American, was to pilot Virgin Atlantic service VS 022 from Washington DC to Heathrow on Friday evening.

The 383 passengers on the flight were sent to hotels, but the jet is due to fly out at 18.15 local time on Saturday night (1115 GMT), arriving on Sunday morning.

A spokeswoman for Dulles airport in Washington said security officials alerted a Virgin supervisor having observed Mr Harwell passing through the ticket counter area.

A Virgin Atlantic spokesman said Mr Harwell, who lived in Britain with his family, had been with the airline 14 years and had an "unblemished record".

He said: "Everyone at Virgin Atlantic is shocked and surprised. This is unprecedented - it's the first time it has happened in the 20 years we've been operating.

"We are at a loss to explain what has happened."

Virgin Atlantic told the BBC it operated a strict no-alcohol policy and an internal inquiry was being started.

Bail

Mr Harwell is in custody and the subject of bail will be discussed later.

Virgin Atlantic's US spokesman, John Riordan, told BBC News security staff at the airport had raised the alarm following concern about the pilot's behaviour.

He was escorted off the plane by airport police.

Virgin Atlantic spokesman Paul Moore said: "The safety and security of our passengers at Virgin Atlantic is our paramount priority."

[LibKill]

Drunk on Liberty is OK. Drunk on Duty deserves 30 lashes.

[Lazamataz]

I see no mention of BAC. I do see a mention of a zero tolerance policy. If he had one freakin' beer, this is just more of the safety nazi stuff.

I'd get on a plane with a pilot who had one.

[toddst]

. . . Mr Harwell, who lived in Britain with his family, had been with the airline 14 years and had an "unblemished record".

OK, I suspect there is more to this story if the pilot has that kind of record. I'm wondering whether the man was reacting to medication, for example?

Considering there is a second pilot on the flight deck, safety isn't in fact that much of an issue IMO. Had he gotten in his seat my guess is there would not have been a problem unless his behavior had presented a difficulty to the other pilot.

[aculeus]

"We are at a loss to explain what has happened."

Try reading a book.

[wimpycat]

I doubt he'd had only one drink, if his behavior is what tipped them off. He'd have to be a real lightweight for one beer to 'show'.

[Lazamataz]

Yeah, you have a point.

hate when people have points.

[JimRed]

I'd get on a plane with a pilot who had one.

But not if he was the guy who said "If you're driving, have another drink. Face traffic with CONFIDENCE!"

[AntiKev]

Alright, the issue with alcohol in the air is this. Pilots are taught in primary training that there is a legal 8 hour rule between their last drink, and going flying. Legally, after excessive drinking you can't fly for 24 hours. Although I agree that one beer at sea level does very little harm, and people are allowed to operate cars with no problem. But at 5000 feet above sea level, the effect of alcohol is approximately doubled. It goes up exponentially from there. Airline cabins are usually pressurized passing through 8000 feet above sea level. You can see how this is a problem. The reason the airlines have a zero-tolerance rule about alcohol, is because the regulations do.

[OldPossum]

Notice how quick the BBC was to point out that the pilot was an American?

[herkbird]

I've worked in the Flight Training Industry for 25 years, and I can clearly state that Drinking and Flying don't mix. Many years ago before the Drinking and driving campaigns started, pilots were notorious for drinking and having DUI's on their drivers license. I'm sure many drank prior to flying, as well as in the air on certain airlines.

The recent crackdown on alcohol use in the Airline industry was widely needed as many in the field of aviation were just plain drunks. Those who lost their jobs due to auto related DUI's was an excellent start. Although their are many sober people in aviation now. Their are still too many who slip through the cracks with severe drinking problems. Most people would be shocked if they knew how bad the problem really was. One Airline I formerly worked for before they went bankrupt, had at least a 50% alcoholism rate if not higher.

The fact that someone slips up and goes on a bender before having to fly is going to happen once in awhile in this day and age. 15-25 years ago, I imagine most pilots would have passed through without question. Society has changed considerably on alcohol use and abuse, and it's no longer laughed at or tolerated. I'm not some crazed anti-alcohol nut, Just do it on your own time and in a manner that will not endanger others.

[PBRSTREETGANG]

But at 5000 feet above sea level, the effect of alcohol is approximately doubled.

So if I move to Denver I can spend half as much on booze?

[aculeus]

Factoids:

Buzz Aldrin was an active alcoholic while an astronaut.

Years ago I read about an AA Group for recovering pilots called Birds of a Feather.

Question: Hasn't the pilots union fought BAC testing?

[dighton]

Yes. Someone risks his good job, and any future job flying, breaking a rule he knew full well. Chances are the book applies here.

[BulletBobCo]

So if I move to Denver I can spend half as much on booze?

That's a fact. You'll get more bang for your buck at higher altitude locations.

[AntiKev]

Exactly what BulletBobCo said.