An interesting article came across my desk today, relevant to what I do; the November 11, 2009 edition of the The Globe and Mail had a brief article entitled 'Pilot Charged for Failing Alcohol Test'.

The pilot in question was arrested after "officers were called to the flight, which was already full of passengers and due to leave London's Heathrow Airport." The officers were responding to a report filed by another member of the airlines staff.

The pilot was charged under British law, which pilots are "fobidden from having any more than 20 micrograms of alcohol for each 100 millilitres of blood in their system [.02%]"

Similar legislation exists in the United States, DOT and FAA guidelines, where a misuse of alcohol is considered:

• Reporting for or remaining on duty with an alcohol concentration of 0.04 or greater
• Using alcohol while performing safety-sensitive function
• Using alcohol within 8 hours following an accident, unless a post-accident test was administered or the employer determined the employee's performance could not have caused the accident
• Flight Crewmembers and Flight Attendants using alcohol within 8 hours of performing functions. Any other covered employee using alcohol within 4 hours of performing functions.

So it has been another interesting day in breath alcohol testing.

Russia will have to wait until tomorrow... we get to pick up our passports in the morning.