Setopbug

So, you equate disease with crime?

Fortunately for our pilot groups, more educated and compassionate people than you have crafted the best HIMS program in the industry for our pilots to avail themselves of. We have many pilots, some who were initially fired for their offenses who've gone through treatment, recertification, and the special issuance process to return to their careers and be productive members of society.

Here's the thing about alcohol. You can't blame and judge somebody whose brain chemistry and physiology has been highly modified and damaged by substance abuse. It's like blaming somebody for being diabetic or getting cancer. Regardless of what choices they made leading up to the disease, it is a disease, not some poor choice.

Somebody sick enough to show up drunk needs treatment, not their peers equating their addiction with criminality.

full of luv

I've always wondered about "not guilty by reason of insanity" because doesn't almost anyone willfully committing murder have to be a little insane?

It's a rhetorical question, yes I know that the reason for that plea is because some don't even know what reality their in......

SUX4U

That’s a disease too I guess!

oldmako

1. In my 32 years, I've never heard of an airline pilot get in hot water for smoking pot. Not one.

2. I can count on one hand the number of guys who made the news for drinking at this airline. By your own account, we've had "a few" of those. I don't deny that some people make mistakes nor abuse alcohol.

3. I take it you don't imbibe on overnights. Good for you.

I do take issue with the broad-brush you're swinging around. It is entirely possible to enjoy a beer or cocktails while on an overnight and stay completely within the FOM guidelines and to then fly like Chuck Norris in the morning. When I'm sitting in my rocker at retirement I don't think I will look back on that ADF approach I flew into PHF at 0220 25 years ago, but I will look back to more than one overnight in Hilton Head or Brussels or Sao Paolo or ....(fill in the blank) and smile. To equate drinking a beer with stealing a passengers sweater is one of the most farcical leaps I've ever read here. Most pilots I know enjoy finding great food and perhaps a frosty-pop or two on overnights. Are they all "dumb" and felons in waiting?

I don't deny that some people make mistakes and have issues with alcohol. I just hope you don't ever get a flight office job. This job is already 1/3 less fun than it used to be.

XHooker

I think most of us would be shocked at what the HIMS program deals with and how many careers it saves.

Well said... aside from the part about flying like Chuck Norris (I don't think Chuck's a pilot... unless you're referring one of the multitude of guys named Norris with the callsign "Chuck").

HuggyU2

Wow.......

JoePatroni

You obviously never saw him in action.

Airway

Yeah alcoholism is like cancer. GMAFB.

I understand alcoholism changes your brain chemistry, and so does heroin. But nobody really defends heroin addicts (I sure don't). But drawing an analogy to cancer is like when people compare stuff to slavery. In other words, it's offensive.

Airhoss

I don’t disagree with your post except that I have done a requal for a guy who was out for over a year for peeing hot for pot on a random. I also know of several other drug related rehabs. One for crack cocaine. It’s rare but it happens.

oldmako

You sort of made my point, Hoss. It's rare.

I don't like it when guys unilaterally decide and then pontificate upon what's best the greater good of the pilot group all by themselves. And if anyone's looking for me tonight, I'll likely be at the bar.