"Irresponsible" is just one the many unpleasant symptoms of alcohol/drug addiction. This guys life is gonna change and I hope he is giving the opportunity to turn things around. He is gonna need help and not criticism. I hope he gets the help he needs.

I'm guessing the "What do you do if your captain shows up drunk" question in interviews trips you up a lot.

Actually it does. Not a sure thing but plenty of case studies of folks who got their job back after a conviction and revocation of certs.

You have obviously never found yourself helplessly addicted to alcohol or drugs. It's a truly hopeless and pathetic state of existence and once you have reached that stage you no longer have "a choice". I suspect you have lived an easy sheltered life. I envy you,.. Some of us have not been so fortunate.

8 for SKW, 12 for most other airlines.

Just because you have the power to be an anonymous jackass online doesn't mean you should be one.

Yeah, he made some horrible choices but there's not one person on this board that knows what has been going on in his life.

I say the mods should lock this thread up.

Have you ever showed up to work very fatigued? Many pilots do, yet research shows fatigue closely resembles being under the influence of something. Or how about an illness of some sort? Again many pilots do, and worse yet many are self medicating with non FAA approved drugs. The system worked and he was not allowed to fly.

Ten+ years ago I would have had a lot more sympathy, a lot more. I grew up in a different era.

But the memo's been out now for a long time. Anybody who drinks more than a few or inside 8 hours really should know they need to call HIMS...before they get caught.

Just because you're addicted doesn't mean you're stupid. Smart enough to fly a jet? Smart enough to read all those emails and memos. Getting help is easy, you just have to decide to do it.

Let's not confuse someone's illness with my freedom. My sensitivity on this topic expired a number of years ago. EVERYBODY has seen the emails, memos, and the presentation in recurrent.

I was given percocets after surgery. They made me feel extremely well, and when I realized that I wasn't in pain but still taking them, it scared the crap out of me. Flushed them all down the toilet. I am one of the lucky ones. Chemical dependency removes your ability to think straight and rationally. Removes your will power, and self control.
You really need to nip it in the bud before it becomes a problem. The only addictive problem I suffer from that challenges my self control is a Chinese buffet or all you can eat sushi deal. I'm lucky if I can walk out of the restaurant.