United Airlines flight from Glasgow to Newark is cancelled when BOTH pilots are arrested for turning up 'drunk'

Funniest reply of the day!

Only 2? There are plenty more and I do not think you are naive.

Second funniest reply of the day.

Good one!

The 0.04 rule is only one of two rules and it is meant to backstop the main FAA rule that ZERO alcohol can be consumed by a pilot for 8 hours before a flight. Many US airlines require 12 hours under their disciplinary rules. It is possible, if enough alcohol is consumed, depending on the person, to follow the 8 hour or 12 rule and break the 0.04 limit, but you can’t do it with just 2-3 drinks at dinner more than 8 or 12 hours before a flight. Most pilots (since they don’t carry a breathalyzer with them) follow the 8 hour rule (or 12 hour rule if their airline has that). These pilots that are getting arrested are obviously forgetting that if you truly “tie one on” (binge drink) that 8-12 hours may not be enough for the alcohol to get out of your system. (Which also indicates that they probably have a drinking problem). I have a private pilot certificate in the US and when I was both still drinking and flying (don’t do either one now) I used a 24 hour rule. Also, my flight school trained is well about safety and if I felt less than 100% well, for any reason, I would fly. Of course, it wasn’t my job, so I could err on the conservative side. More training is obviously needed to catch these problem pilots - including training other employees to see the warning signs and encourage them to report them because an alcoholic is not going to self-report. http://www.airspacedoc.com/alcohol-the-pilot-and-the-faa/

The limit is actually .04% PLUS 8 hours “bottle to throttle”.

I wonder how many joints they are allowed to take onto the flight deck? Maybe just one each.

I agree. And it doesn’t stop there. Even away from the controls, a DUI will alter the course of a career in an instant. It can also prevent one from ever taking off if you can’t get the required medical rating for your license. The FAA will find out eventually and you’d be lucky to max out as a regional Captain.

What part of “eight hours bottle to throttle + .04%” is hard to understand?

After 40 years maybe its time to give them another chance.

Lyle Prousse and his crew were the most famous example from NWA's "good old days". Lyle's story is also an inspiring example of how one can fall pretty far but with the help of many others, recover and lead a meaningful life.

"Remarkably, the incident comes three years after two OTHER United Airlines pilots were arrested for being drunk before flying the Glasgow Airport to Newark route."

I noticed it was the 2nd.. Did not pay attention to the routing... WOW, Good Catch.

You think the Scottish Whiskey manufacturer will have a complaint filed that
that it did not say on the label you should not try to fly an aircraft if you had
any of our product in the past 72 hours?

Do the Scots know that Ireland took over Glasgow?

More truth than you think to that. When pilots used to actually fly planes they knew they could not have any impairment and used much better judgement.

UGH.. I think I would rather fly with a Drunk than to risk it all on a computer... What happens when systems fail... I mean really... What are we going to have... An Automatic Pilot? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WMhYl74vw2c

the day humans are to dumb and or intoxicated to fly airplanes is the day it all needs to end for humams.

this is the first time for that crew. some people's reading comprehension isn't that great.

Or maybe even “throw” the book at them. Simple spelling errors portend a sooner collapse of society than does drinking.

I dunno, Boeing has a lot of other stuff to fix first...

They're actually more strict than the U.S. just like the rest of Europe. Blowing a .02 is a hangover...

It was lowered to eight hours.

With the shortage of experience pilots on the horizon they might not get fired but if they loose a months pay thats still about $11,000 for an international crew/

Alcohol is a chemical that grabs a hold of people... In my opinion, I would like to see it banned, but I know that is impossible.. We have proof of that from Prohibition... It is nice to know that these few will never be allowed to fly for an airline ever again, and some never to fly again...

As much as I hate to say it...... they have no choice... They pay dues to get protection as well... No different than a Drunk Driver hiring a Lawyer!

That is valid statement for every Airline in the world, and has absolutely nothing to with a particular Airline or culture. Dig on ....

Then you'd best find a padded room and stay in it, because your chance of dying in an airplane flown by an intoxicated crew is much less than many other ways of dying on a daily basis.