Originally Posted by
ACessential
I'm always amazed at crew members that drink at the hotel bar and blabber their mouths about what they do for a living. Come on folks, be creative and come up with an alter ego. When I'm on layovers and enjoying some adult beverages (within company and FAA regulations of course), I most definitely do not tell people I'm an airline pilot. ESPECIALLY if you are drinking at the hotel you are staying at.
In the past I have been a traveling health insurance salesman, journalist, jacuzzi salesman, professional photographer, etc. Pick something you have some knowledge about and have fun with it. Do NOT under any circumstances tell people you are a pilot for Christ sake. Maybe 30 years ago it would have been fair game.
I flew with a guy once who had an American Eagle ballcap that he broke out when drinking on an overnight (this was at mesa).
And for clarity re. SKW...
Less than .04 but .02 or greater (ie any detectable BAC) is a violation of company policy. Mandatory removal from duty, and almost certain disciplinary action. Termination is not mandatory but is certainly possible (perhaps even likely).
SKW has an 8 hour rule...you have more leeway to drink than many or most airlines but you're also responsible for managing it correctly.
SKW has a HIMS program and it is widely advertised and encouraged. If you submit to HIMS before getting caught, there is no penalty of any kind and you go out on disability while doing the program (at no cost). In this guy's case, he can still do HIMS but probably at his own expense since he got caught. He might still be fired but it will be a "suspended termination" pending completion of HIMS.
This of course brings up the usual questions about HIMS...it's intended to help folks with an addiction. But what about somebody who just exercised poor judgement once? Still eligible for HIMS? Should he be? Or should only the "professional boozers" be afforded the protections of HIMS, with no love for the amateurs?