Austinist: The Accidental Gentrifist: Soaked at the Stick

Benj

Tue, 02 Oct 2007 13:04:04 -0600

Okay, got one: (extracted from Reuters, 7 April 2007) "Virgin blames diet for pilot breath test failure" "...The result showed the amount of alcohol in the blood was consistent with that of a non-drinker. "No charges will be brought against the British pilot, whose name was not released. The pilot, suspended after the incident, will be able to resume his duties immediately, the airline said." My bad.

Benj

Tue, 02 Oct 2007 12:49:44 -0600

Do you have a link to an article citing his vindication?

guest

Tue, 02 Oct 2007 05:05:04 -0600

The Virgin pilot you mention was found entirely innocent. His test was negative and all charges were dropped by the police. He was on the low carb diet and the high levels of acetone in his breath gave a false indication initially.

Scooby

Mon, 01 Oct 2007 15:21:39 -0600

That 0.9 mg/ 100 ml breath is about equal to 0.02% BAC. It's more than you get from a sip of booze- about what a 150 lb person would have shortly after downing 1 drink. "Only a couple of drinks, officer" would definitely always be over the limit. There has to be a defined legal standard for this, and 0.02%BAC is about as low as the breathalysers are "beyond a reasonable doubt" reliable. (see http://tinyurl.com/36mnya , question 4 for enforcement interpretations of similar standards for bus & truck drivers). The guys that had 6-8 times the legal limit were good and drunk (0.12-0.16 BAC), but not quite as bad as the "fraternity pledge hazing gone wrong" level of drinking that the words "six times the legal limit" implies (i.e. 0.48 BAC- enough to kill or strike comatose all but the most hardened of Leaving Las Vegas-style drunks).

guest

Mon, 01 Oct 2007 15:05:23 -0600

Not surprising after some of the takeoffs and landings I've been through. And now that I think about it, the last time I had that front seat on the plane (the one almost next to the cockpit on small planes) I noticed the pilots were especially giggly. I remember being surprised they were so thrilled about flying to St. Louis. Now I understand.

guest

Mon, 01 Oct 2007 14:08:18 -0600

I want to be a pilot.