I know of a pilot that volunteered himself and his crew for a breathalyzer after a passenger mentioned smelling AL. He tested over a .100. He had no idea he was under the influence due to his tolerance of AL.

"Grounded" is a good story in the AA Big Book, but I don't really see that the author ever really grew to live a "sober" life. He stopped drinking but kept many of the underlying Alcoholic behaviors, just my opinion.

"Flying Drunk" is a MUCH better book.

I also know of a company (and Chief Pilot) who was made aware by the hotel that they had a pilot in the bar after midnight with a 0600 van time, yet did nothing about it until the cabin door was closed and the parking brake released. That seems pretty over the top.

We all know pilots that display alcoholic behavior, at home and on the road, but excluding an intervention, there is nothing anyone can do for those pilots until they overcome their self-denial, accept that they are powerless over alcohol and seek help - for themselves, not just for their jobs.

Not to be overly picky but the pilot would have been working the ninth step if anything had gone wrong, not the eighth step.

IMO, the best, most responsible and caring thing a fellow pilot can do when faced with another pilot that may be under the influence is to say, "Either you're calling in sick right now or I am." Then follow it up with Pro Stands and HIMS.

Oh, and AA works for MANY people, it's my experience that AA alone is a partial solution for many Alcoholics. AA has to be combined with something else to be most effective for many people. That can be Church, yoga, exercise, volunteer work or whatever, but we all need to do something that takes our minds off ourselves and makes something other than us the center of the universe.