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I can't remember a single accident report -- admittedly, I haven't read anything like all of them -- that showed significant blood alcohol.

I've pinged some FReepers who'll have better information.

A jet crashed in Alaska years ago and the dead pilot's blood alcohol level was way over anyone's definition of drunk, much higher than these two pilots. It was a freighter, flying cattle to Japan.

Actually alcoholics have a very high tolerance and I'd rather fly with an alcoholic pilot whose had a few than a non-alcoholic. His hand-body coordination would not be as impaired.

Years ago I read of a group within AA made up of recovering alcoholics who had commercial pilot licenses. They called themselves Birds of a Feather.

There are many active alcoholic pilots. Don't forget F. Lee Bailey ... he is a licensed pilot and may still represent the pilots' union. Read Patty Hearst's book about her trial and her descriptions of Bailey's alcohol consumption -- at lunch, during trial -- and make up your own mind.

From http://www.whittsflying.com/Pa ge7Statistics.htm#BM_ach_

Alcohol
1.In accidents from '78 to '87 6% of G.A. pilots had blood alcohol level of at least .04% by weight. 670 people were killed in these accidents.
2. NO 1997 alcohol related accidents.

I ran a search for positive % alcohol on the http://www.ntsb.gov/ntsb/query .asp aviation database. This would pop up any accident report with the word "positive" and "alcohol" in the same sentence. This yielded 26 records. Three records pointed to alcohol as a factor in the crash, two pointed to drugs (marihuana (their spelling), ephedrine, cocaine, psuedoephedrine and more), one pointed to alcohol and drugs. The remainder of the reports that were pulled were listed as reporting that the pilot/crew were not positive for alcohol.

There are many active alcoholic pilots.

That is the most assinine statement I've ever read on this board. I suggest you supply us with proof of this amazing revelation? Oh and before you suggest I post proof, read Tennessee Bob's post in #15. He beat me to the punch. In my ten years of flying I have had nothing but responsible professionals next to me, to the last man. They all are professionals and conduct themselves as such pre, during and post duty times. And I know of very few who drink. These two were an exception, not the rule. The aviation industry gets enough speculative garbage from the media. I suggest you get a clue before you go generalizing on an industry you obviously know nothing about.