The International Cessna^® 170 Association

George, Re:

gahorn wrote:PILOT ARRESTED FOR ALCOHOL, BUT PASSES TEST (http://www.avweb.com/eletter/archives/a ... tml#196633)After a TSA agent at Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport said he smelled alcohol on the breath of a Midwest Airlines pilot last week, airport police arrested him. A breath test registered a blood alcohol level of .016, and the FAA limit for pilots is .04 and eight hours. The airline's own limit is .02 percent. Reports were unclear regarding how long since the pilot had indulged (if he had), but his lawyer said there's enough alcohol in mouthwash to register a .016 level. The pilot was detained by police for three hours, but wasn't charged with a crime. He was taken off flight duty until the airline completes its investigation. Some early reports of the incident noted that the pilot was carrying a gun, for which he was certified, and also mis-reported the alcohol level at 0.16.
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My cologne registers higher than that!

I saw that earlier.
I admit that the pilots who boarded their commercial jetliner above the limit were clearly out of bounds. (reported in the news months ago).
But, gee whiz.... This can ruin those pilots careers.
How can our honorable protectors of the innocent make such a mistake.

When you get on an airplane, your taking a risk. Same as your car, a roller coaster, tractor, lawn mower, even eating the food you buy. Whether human error or mechanical, the mechanical things we use were made and maintained by humans, so it's ALL about human error, whether accidental or intentional. There is an inherant risk in everything we do. We all interdependant on others in some way. We all need to take more responsibility in protecting ourselves and those we love from others mistakes, misfortunes and purposed harm. We've become a nation of people who depend on insurance companies and laws to protect and defend our interest when things go wrong. We all pay the price for this "security". What happened to Liberty? What happened to Freedom? Going and doing as a free citizen as you wish, so long as you don't infringe on someone elses life, liberty, or property? It's takes alot less laws and no insurance to prove and convict on that basis.
I think is was Benjamin Franklin:
"Those who would sacrifice liberty for the sake of temporary security, deserve neither liberty nor security!"

Next time you are in an airport take agood look at the TSA employees. I believe your mail man has more competence and qualifications than most of these people. If you want a great insight into the horrors of TSA take some time to talk to the Airport Police - the real police - the ones who sucessfully completed background investigations and psycological testing. TSA scares the &%$* out of me!

Howdy Robert,

I agree with what you said.....I worked for the City of Houston P.D. for almost 28 years...then retired. I spent the last 4 years of my career at IAH...1999-2004. I worked/experienced the "commercial" and TSA checkpoints. The "commercial" folks were more effective, monetary rewards for finding contraband. TSA were more profesional and "political correct." Metal detectors and "hands on" body search are the only truly effective means to screen passengers and crew. This will never happen. We all put up with the inconvienance and halfway measures taken thus far. Heaven forbid that anyone be offended. Under the current system, complaints are more important than results....We (this country) have been very lucky so far......The TSA pays their employees three times the salary of the previous "commercial folks." I don't fault the TSA screeners....the blame lies with their boss.

Richard...

I hope the guy's career is not hurt. 0.016, as stated, could be mouthwash. In fact, I wonder if that is within the margin of error for the 'breathalyzers'?

I believe the quote is: "The man who trades freedom for security does not deserve nor will he ever receive either."- Benjamin Franklin

http://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/autho ... nklin.html

Require all passengers who prove proficient with handguns (and only those) to carry them and the problem goes away.

Howdy George,

Your solution is intelligent and makes $ sense.......which means.....not a chance.....the best idea I have heard to date.....I don't know how many "honorably retired" cops there are in this country.....all of them have the "federal right" to carry in the lower 48 states.....that would be a good place to start !!! and if not enough, carry over to your idea.....with some additional training....for the other responsible folks.....

Richard....

In a similar story:
VIRGIN PILOT CLEARED OF ALCOHOL CHARGES (http://www.avweb.com/eletter/archives/a ... tml#196646)A Virgin Atlantic relief pilot, who was hauled off an aircraft and arrested on suspicion of being drunk, has been cleared of the charges and is expected to return to work. The unidentified 42-year-old pilot, who was to fly as the third crew member on the Virgin A340 from Heathrow to Miami, was arrested Oct. 28 a few minutes before the flight was to leave. Airline policy is to replace the whole crew when that happens and the 266 passengers were delayed almost four hours while three pilots were rounded up.