Pilot Caught Trying To Fly Plane While Drunk

Reuters ^ | Wed Apr 12, 2006 9:34am ET

[sully777]

MUMBAI (Reuters) - An Indian low-cost airline suspended a pilot after he was found drunk shortly before he was due to fly an aircraft with about 100 passengers on board, officials said Wednesday.

The surprise Tuesday check at Mumbai airport -- India's busiest -- threw up several minor violations of safety norms by airlines, including an instance of a pilot in another low-cost carrier trying to fly in a T-shirt because his only uniform had gone to the laundry.

While aviation officials let most offenders off with a warning, Captain N. Ronaldo, a South American pilot flying an Air Deccan aircraft from Mumbai to the eastern city of Kolkata, was referred for "action" after being found drunk on duty.

"We have suspended the pilot after a breath-analyzer showed he had alcohol beyond the permissible levels," Air Deccan spokesperson Vijaya Menon told Reuters.

Indian aviation rules do not allow pilots to drink 12 hours before a flight. It was not immediately known how much liquor the pilot had consumed.

India's civil aviation sector has expanded rapidly in the past three years with several new private airlines looking at home and abroad for new pilots.

[sully777]

____Aboard Air Deccan

---

_____One of Air Deccan's airplanes.

[CarrotAndStick]

While aviation officials let most offenders off with a warning, Captain N. Ronaldo, a South American pilot flying an Air Deccan aircraft from Mumbai to the eastern city of Kolkata, was referred for "action" after being found drunk on duty.

India is in a severe shortage for pilots, after the sudden sprouting of several private carriers.

[sully777]

I know what drinking does for the passengers. What does it do for the pilots?

[sully777]

According to a search, Air Deccan is one of the newer low-cost/high volume airlines flying the smaller routes within the country. Have you tried this airline, or do you stick to Air India?

[CarrotAndStick]

Foo Fighters- Learn to Fly

Verse 1
Run and tell all of the angels
This could take all night
Think I need a devil to help me
Get things right

Hook me up a new revolution
Cos this one is a lie
We sat around laughing
And watch the last one die

Chorus
I’m looking to the sky to save me
Looking for a sign of life
Looking for something help me burn out bright

I’m looking for complications
Looking cos I’m tired of lying (’trying’ in 2nd chorus)
Make my way back home
When I learn to fly (high)

Verse 2
Think I’m done nursing the patience
I can wait one night
I’d give it all away
If you give me one last try

We live happily ever trapped
If you just save my life
Run and tell the angels
That everything is all right

Chorus

Bridge
Fly along with me
I can’t quite make it alone
Try to make this life my own
(x2)

Chorus

[CarrotAndStick]

I've tried another one, Kingfisher Airlines. This one, not. And won't be trying for some time now either! ;^)

BTW, Air India doesn't do domestic service. Jet Airways, Sahara and Indian Airlines do.

[martin_fierro]

"Looks like I picked the wrong week to stop sniffling glue"

[CarrotAndStick]

Ironically, Kingfisher Airlines is owned by a liquor baron, the one who owns Shaw Wallace.

[sully777]

Airplane The Movie (aka Kentucky Fired Airplane)

"Excuse me, can you fly this plane?"

[Allegra]

Ping

[sully777]

He looks like a humble man...haha

[sully777]

[JennysCool]

Yeah, that set of pics inspires confidence.

[CarrotAndStick]

I know. The taste of confidence. LoL!

[IndianChief]

Hi, I fly frequently on work here in India . I've flown most airlines. I often fly Air-India on the domestic sectors too., though these are generally domestic terminators of international flights. eg Mumbai-Ahmedabad-London or Newark-Mumbai-Ahmedabad etc. I have started preferring Indian Airlines over all others because of their pilot training. Even Jet Airways has slipped a bit. I have been on flights where the commander probably had less experience than Indians co-pilots.

Kingfisher is coming up fast despite Jets desperate manoeverings and the fact that the Civil Aviation Minister is more than friendly with Jets owner. Kingfishers in-flight product is superior to even Jets outstanding service.

Amongst the LCC's , Spicejet is good, Go may survive if it gets its schedules correct and Deccan may pull through. With Jagson Airlines starting in May and Indigo in July/August, things look interesting. I just hope the pilot shortage doesn't create problems. One crash and the LCC story would be over. Deccan was lucky when a Nigerian pilot slammed a brand new ATR-72 on the runway on landing, breaking the landing gear and causing it to run off the runway. A lot of pilots are from CIS and South American countries and they have difficulty understanding the ATC.

[CarrotAndStick]

Thanks for your input!

[Future Snake Eater]

Airline Rep: Hey...you're not just impersonating a pilot so you can drink here, are you?
Homer: Yeah. That's exactly why I'm here.
Airline Rep: [laughs] You fly boys, you crack me up.
Homer: [being pushed into the cockpit] But I keep telling you I'm not a pilot!
Airline Rep: And I keep telling you you fly boys crack me up!

[KeyLargo]

http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/custom/newsroom/chi-060428pilot,1,1942169.story?coll=chi-news-hed

State pilot who flies for Blagojevich faces felony charges


The Associated Press

April 28, 2006, 7:29 AM CDT

A pilot with the state department of transportation whose duties include flying the governor around is facing felony charges and the potential loss of his pilot's license.

Brian Keen, 34, has been charged with criminal trespass to a residence and two misdemeanor battery charges.

Authorities say he broke into a female acquaintance's home earlier this week and got into a fight.

He could lose his pilot's license if he is convicted of a felony. He also faces up to three years in prison.

Keen lives in Belleville. He is the son-in-law of U.S. Rep. Jerry Costello (D-Belleville), whose daughter has filed for divorce from Keen.

Keen has been a pilot with the state since 2003.