Florida cannot prosecute pilots

[Edward Todd]

Florida cannot prosecute pilots

http://www.cnn.com/2003/LAW/08/05/pilots.hearing/index.html

[kevin]

John Smith wrote:
> Well, if they are prepared to continue flying drunk (and lets face it, with
> blood 0.091, they were), hopefully they will not get their jobs back, from
> anyone. Unsafe pilots should be grounded, end of story.
>
>
> "Edward Todd" > wrote in message
> ...
>
>>Florida cannot prosecute pilots
>>
>>http://www.cnn.com/2003/LAW/08/05/pilots.hearing/index.html
>
>
>
Although the local authorties dont like to admit it, no State, city, or
county, has any authority to revoke , or suspend a pilots license.
Only the FAA can bust them.

[john smith]

Dave Butler wrote:
> Not doubting what you say, but is there any public record where one can see FAA
> certificate actions? Does this incident appear in that record? Thanks.

There is. I stumbled across it one day by accident, but I don't remember
the URL.

[Captain Wubba]

kevin > wrote in message news:<Dj8Ya.79936$uu5.8446@sccrnsc04>...
> John Smith wrote:
> > Well, if they are prepared to continue flying drunk (and lets face it, with
> > blood 0.091, they were), hopefully they will not get their jobs back, from
> > anyone. Unsafe pilots should be grounded, end of story.
> >
> >
> > "Edward Todd" > wrote in message
> > ...
> >
> >>Florida cannot prosecute pilots
> >>
> >>http://www.cnn.com/2003/LAW/08/05/pilots.hearing/index.html
> >
> >
> >
> Although the local authorties dont like to admit it, no State, city, or
> county, has any authority to revoke , or suspend a pilots license.
> Only the FAA can bust them.


Indeed. And she isn't trying to do this. They were being prosecuted
under *state* law barring the operation of an aircraft while drunk.
The feds have already done their thing...these guys had their tickets
revoked, and will likely never fly again professionally. All the judge
was doing was determining if the state could nail them under state law
also.

[Tom S.]

"Captain Wubba" > wrote in message
om...
> Indeed. And she isn't trying to do this. They were being prosecuted
> under *state* law barring the operation of an aircraft while drunk.
> The feds have already done their thing...these guys had their tickets
> revoked, and will likely never fly again professionally. All the judge
> was doing was determining if the state could nail them under state law
> also.

Double jeopardy?

[Newps]

Captain Wubba wrote:

>
> Not only will they not get their jobs back, the FAA pulled their
> tickets. Even though they probably won't go to jail, their careers are
> *totally* over. They won't fly for anyone, at least not for years, and
> even then it won't be for an airline. The only uniform these guys will
> be wearing will say 'Burger King' on it.

The first guy that everybody remembers to get his ticket pulled for
flying drunk, Capt. Prouse of Northwest Airlines, got back in the left
seat of a NWA 747 before he retired. So it has already happened and
will probably happen again.

[Rick Durden]

Captain,

In general, you're correct. However, there has been at least one
airline captain who managed to get his life straightened out after
alcoholism, getting busted,prison and a lot of self evaluation. A NWA
captain did get his position back in circumstances that were
completely appropriate. He served prison time, realized he'd been a
screwup, straightened out, and was leading a completely straight life
with extensive volunteer work for aviation groups. His friends saw
the change and pressed the airline, getting his job back, many, many
years later.

People do screw up. Some of them recognize it and make corrections.
It would be interesting to see what happens with these folks. In this
day and age we are pretty quick to condemn everyone, no matter what.

Despite the hype, there hasn't been an airline accident in which
alcohol or drugs was even considered a factor in decades. Maybe that
goes to prove that airliners are really easy to fly <g>.

All the best,
Rick

(Captain Wubba) wrote in message >...
> "John Smith" > wrote in message >...
> > Well, if they are prepared to continue flying drunk (and lets face it, with
> > blood 0.091, they were), hopefully they will not get their jobs back, from
> > anyone. Unsafe pilots should be grounded, end of story.
> >
> >
> > "Edward Todd" > wrote in message
> > ...
> > > Florida cannot prosecute pilots
> > >
> > > http://www.cnn.com/2003/LAW/08/05/pilots.hearing/index.html
>
> Not only will they not get their jobs back, the FAA pulled their
> tickets. Even though they probably won't go to jail, their careers are
> *totally* over. They won't fly for anyone, at least not for years, and
> even then it won't be for an airline. The only uniform these guys will
> be wearing will say 'Burger King' on it.

[Captain Wubba]

I agree that people can indeed change. But, as harsh as it sounds, I
really think that some fields require such 'good judgement', that one
really shouldn't get a second chance after certain types of screwups.
That isn't to say that they should bhe permanently punished for one
mistake, but that being a pilot is an honour and a privilege, and not
having that privilege isn't a punishment, as much as it might feel
like it.

I really wouldn't want to see these guys go to jail. They screwed up,
they know it, and they will pay a very hefty price (with their
careers, likely). But being allowed to be an airline pilot brings with
it the higest demand for responsibility and professionalism. And these
two pilots failed to meet that standard in a *stunning* manner. All
they had to do was to abide by the rules that we, as pilots all
follow. Personally, I would never get in an airplane againt with a
pilot who knowingly chose to operate an aircraft while intoxicated.
That shows such terribly poor judgement that I could never again trust
their judgement when it comes to flying. If a surgeon botched an
operation because he was drunk, I doubt I could ever trust him again
in such a situation, regardless of how hard they have worked to fix
their life. Same goes for an airline pilot.

Cheers

Cap


(Rick Durden) wrote in message >...
> Captain,
>
> In general, you're correct. However, there has been at least one
> airline captain who managed to get his life straightened out after
> alcoholism, getting busted,prison and a lot of self evaluation. A NWA
> captain did get his position back in circumstances that were
> completely appropriate. He served prison time, realized he'd been a
> screwup, straightened out, and was leading a completely straight life
> with extensive volunteer work for aviation groups. His friends saw
> the change and pressed the airline, getting his job back, many, many
> years later.
>
> People do screw up. Some of them recognize it and make corrections.
> It would be interesting to see what happens with these folks. In this
> day and age we are pretty quick to condemn everyone, no matter what.
>
> Despite the hype, there hasn't been an airline accident in which
> alcohol or drugs was even considered a factor in decades. Maybe that
> goes to prove that airliners are really easy to fly <g>.
>
> All the best,
> Rick
>
> (Captain Wubba) wrote in message >...
> > "John Smith" > wrote in message >...
> > > Well, if they are prepared to continue flying drunk (and lets face it, with
> > > blood 0.091, they were), hopefully they will not get their jobs back, from
> > > anyone. Unsafe pilots should be grounded, end of story.
> > >
> > >
> > > "Edward Todd" > wrote in message
> > > ...
> > > > Florida cannot prosecute pilots
> > > >
> > > > http://www.cnn.com/2003/LAW/08/05/pilots.hearing/index.html
> >
> > Not only will they not get their jobs back, the FAA pulled their
> > tickets. Even though they probably won't go to jail, their careers are
> > *totally* over. They won't fly for anyone, at least not for years, and
> > even then it won't be for an airline. The only uniform these guys will
> > be wearing will say 'Burger King' on it.

[Mark Kolber]

On Wed, 6 Aug 2003 12:02:06 -0700, "Tom S." > wrote:

>
>Double jeopardy?

No. That's not it. The double jeopardy clause doesn't prevent separate
state and federal prosecutions.

Mark Kolber
APA/Denver, Colorado
www.midlifeflight.com
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