Canadian North fires boozing Dash 8 pilot

[George Taylor]

The Canadian North airline has fired the captain of Dash 8 flight 605 for contravening the company’s alcohol consumption policy, the company said in a statement June 5.

The pilot, detained by the RCMP in Qikiqtarjuaq May 31 after flying a De Havilland Dash 8 passenger aircraft into the community from Iqaluit, faces a possible criminal investigation for consuming alcohol while operating an aircraft, a Transport Canada incident report said June 4.

And an internal company investigation has already concluded that the captain of the aircraft “contravened Canadian North’s strict policy prohibiting the consumption of alcohol within twelve hours of reporting for duty,” the company said.

The company said the pilot also breached a Transport Canada regulation that prohibits the consumption of alcohol within eight hours of acting as a crew member.

“This is a fundamental obligation of a pilot for the privilege of holding a commercial pilot’s licence and I am profoundly disappointed this individual chose to disregard these requirements.  We will do everything within our power to ensure this does not happen again,” Tracy Medve, president of Canadian North, said in a news release.

A report posted June 4 on a web site called the Civil Aviation Daily Occurrence Reporting System, known as CADORS, by Rod Ridley, a civil aviation safety inspector at Transport Canada, said a Canadian North pilot was suspected of consuming alcohol while operating an aircraft.

“Canadian North Operations in Edmonton were reportedly contacted by a security officer at the Iqaluit airport who advised them that a crew member on the flight to CYVM [Qikiqtarjuaq] smelled of alcohol,” the report said.

The report describes the incident as an alleged infraction of Canadian aviation regulations and cites “crew incapacitation.”

The CADORS report said a security officer at the Iqaluit airport contacted Canadian North’s operations centre in Edmonton May 31.

The security officer told the airline that a “crew member on the flight to CYVM smelled of alcohol.”

Canadian North then called the RCMP and asked them to meet the flight.

After the aircraft landed in Qikiqtarjuaq, the crew were detained and brought to the local RCMP detachment for questioning, the CADORS report said.

After those police interviews, “a blood test was authorized and conducted by a local nurse.”

The CADORS report said charges under the Criminal Code are pending, based on the results of the blood test.

“Aviation Enforcement and RCMP are co-operating in the investigation,” the report said.

The plane was not damaged and no one was injured in the incident. It’s not clear how many passengers, if any, travelled on the flight.

Canadian North said they have no information about the RCMP investigation, but they will co-operate in all official investigations of the matter.

[George Taylor]

http://www.nunatsiaqonline.ca/stories/a ... llegation/

[Panama Jack]

Always sad to read a story like this.

It is sad for the pilot, who has effectively destroyed the career.

It is also sad for the colleagues who are obligated to report such behavior. Nobody wants to be put in the spot to have to do this.

If you are a pilot and you ever find yourself doing or having done something like this, have a good think about the impact on yourself and, if nothing else, others and get some help. Otherwise, consider throwing in the towel now.

[the goal is soul]

It is also sad for the colleagues who are obligated to report such behavior. Nobody wants to be put in the spot to have to do this.

If you are a pilot and you ever find yourself doing or having done something like this, have a good think about the impact on yourself and, if nothing else, others and get some help.

I think that that's the take-away from all of this.

What would you do if you you reported for duty that day as the FO or FA?

[ever]

Doesn't addictions counselling have to be offered before you can fire an employee for alcohol or substance abuse? isn't it considered a "disease"?

Not defending anyone hear, Im genuinely curious. Especially CDN north pilots being in a union, I thought for sure this would be the case.

[George Taylor]

Usually employee has to approach employer with problem first, before they get caught.

[Stu Pidasso]

You guys are awfully quick to convict this guy. There have been cases where a Security Clown has made false accusations.

It is too bad (if truely the case) that he has already been terminated.

A 'wait and see' appoach usually works best.

[CFR]

You guys are awfully quick to convict this guy. There have been cases where a Security Clown has made false accusations.

It is too bad (if truely the case) that he has already been terminated.

A 'wait and see' appoach usually works best.

Blood test confirmed he was beyond the limit, zero tolerance got him fired!

[tbaylx]

It is also sad for the colleagues who are obligated to report such behavior. Nobody wants to be put in the spot to have to do this.

If you are a pilot and you ever find yourself doing or having done something like this, have a good think about the impact on yourself and, if nothing else, others and get some help.

I think that that's the take-away from all of this.

What would you do if you you reported for duty that day as the FO or FA?

If ever in the situation where you report for duty and find one of your coworkers under the influence or smelling like booze, i'd have a nice quiet chat with him and suggest strongly that he/she go back to the hotel/home and call sick rather than deal with the alternative. If you're looking out for your peers then that is the best course of action for all involved. It should be a wake up call for the guy coming to work hungover and you deal with it before it gets to this level.
Wish the security personnel had the decency to do the same when they suspect someone, it really doesn't help anyone out (including pax) if you let him continue on and go flying, then report him behind his back after he's already left.

[Stu Pidasso]

Blood test confirmed he was beyond the limit, zero tolerance got him fired!

The nursing station in Qikiqtarjuaq draws blood last Thursday, where did the blood go for analysis?

The "Crime Lab" in Quikiqtarjuaq? All seems a little too fast (and suspicious) to me.

Plus, how many hours had elapsed since departure from YFB?

7. Posted by Interesting Thoughts... on June 05, 2012

I think it’s very interesting that the media has let people assume that this flight was a direct one from Iqaluit to Qik. The flight crew took off from Iqaluit, landed in Pang and then took off and went to Qik where RCMP met the plane.

If this is the case, that added "time" which further reduced any Blood Alcohol. Then land and get interviewed by the Mounties in Qik, taken to the nursing station, then have a Blood Sample taken.

Looks to me like a fair bit of time transpired. I would say he would have to been Severely Inebriated to still show any Blood Alcohol.

[Liquid Charlie]

I suspect he took the blood test at the time thinking he would likely be below the legal limit -- most companies are adopting 12 hours into their COM now and many airlines are also adopting compulsory and random testing. So given the information we have now it would seem he has very little defense. I'm sure ALPA Legal is scratching their heads -- not much defense when you are in direct violation of COM and CARS --

My question is -- not to be a "dick head" -- but -- the last time I checked a -8 was a 2 pilot airplane -- there is no way, as described, that this could go unnoticed by the 2nd body in the flight deck -- why did he not intervene before the flight - and also why would someone pull such a stupid stunt in this day and age -- he should of booked off sick in the first place or at the very worst told by his partner to go home and call in sick -- so let this be a lesson to all --

If the "partner in crime" goes unscathed he will be very fortunate -- doesn't matter if he was alcohol free and deemed "innocent" in the eyes of the law - he is still culpable morally and professionally and his ability to make proper decisions should be reviewed.

The macho, party hard, 2 fisted drinking "bush" pilot is about 30 years out of date now and zero tolerance has taken over -- and don't forget -- it's every screener's dream to catch a pilot smelling of alcohol ---

[CFR]

You guys are awfully quick to convict this guy. There have been cases where a Security Clown has made false accusations.

It is too bad (if truely the case) that he has already been terminated.

A 'wait and see' appoach usually works best.

Blood test confirmed he was beyond the limit, zero tolerance got him fired!

My bad... Blood test results can take a while to be processed, I meant to say "Breathalyser confirmed over the limit ..." Blood was drawn to confirm actual amount and to use in court.

[Kilo-Kilo]

About the being unjustly fired comments:

If charges are pending for operating a commercial aircraft in his alleged condition then his flying privileges will have surely been revoked. Therefore the point of being fired for the charge alone is moot as the holding of the appropriate license would be a term of employment for the position of flight crew member.

In other words, if you can't hold a license then you are of no value to the company as a pilot and they can quickly wash their hands of your problems and distance themselves from you.

[slowstream]

No matter what the damage has been done, to him, to the crew, to the airline and to the trust of the traveling public.

Either way I feel for the guy, its like the crash, no one sets out to do that. The guy made a very poor decision and now he's going to pay an extremely high price for it! Hopefully he's single, otherwise more people are going to be paying the price for his poor judgement.

I don't know who it is yet (I doubt it will take very long to find out who it is), I don't know if he has a substance problem, but I wish him luck, he's going to need it.

BTW, I am not a bleeding heart, I also don't need to crucify him, he'll have enough people and agencies doing that, either do I condone flying impaired and it still happens too much and MUST STOP!

[tbaylx]

You guys are awfully quick to convict this guy. There have been cases where a Security Clown has made false accusations.

It is too bad (if truely the case) that he has already been terminated.

A 'wait and see' appoach usually works best.

Blood test confirmed he was beyond the limit, zero tolerance got him fired!

My bad... Blood test results can take a while to be processed, I meant to say "Breathalyser confirmed over the limit ..." Blood was drawn to confirm actual amount and to use in court.

Breathalyzers are notoriously inaccurate. You can blow over the limit without having had a drink in weeks. It's why a blood test is conducted, breathalyzers are not accurate enough to determine actual blood alcohol levels, they only indicate if a proper test should be conducted.

[crazy_aviator]

Given CRM and SMS and all those other acronims , wouldnt the other pilot have cancelled the flight BASED upon SAFETY Management S OR Crew RESOURCES Management ? Maybe, the other pilot couldnt smell ? or see?

[Stu Pidasso]

Whatever happened to, "Innocent until PROVEN Guilty?"

The F/O climbed into the Flight Deck and operated two legs together, without raising any alarm.

A Mountie, in one of the most remote corners of the globe, gives a Breathalyzer. When was it last calibrated or even used?

For this he gets Fired, suspended with pay...maybe?

History has taught me to wait for the facts.

[Indanao]

The F/O climbed into the Flight Deck and operated two legs together, without raising any alarm.

[Sasquash]

stu Pidasso

Regardless of their location in Canada, each breathalyzer is calibrated on each and ever test with a Standard Alcohol solution and two tests are taken, which by law have to be within 20mgs of alcohol.

[North Shore]

Nice of the company to take care of their employee. *Assuming* s/he has an alcohol problem (and I can't really think of any other reason that would have a person knowingly show up under the influence) how about a little help and compassion given to a sick individual to help them overcome their problems, rather than just throwing them and their family to the wolves..

OTOH, knowingly showing up when you went a little hard the night/morning before. Dumbass.

[MUSKEG]

Since when is a breathalyzer notoriously inaccurate. There are thousands of DUI's that stand up in court from breathalyzer samples. I have seen the carnage alcohol does on the road first hand and have zero pity and zero tolerance for operating anything while impaired. These are choices people make and last I checked you needed to be an adult to hold a ATPL thus you are responsible for your actions. Stop the pity party and don't blame the company. We know nothing about the paper trail and for them to have fired him you can bet your paycheck they were well within their rights. Why is it that there are always the bleeding hearts that want to defend a stupid choice someone makes. I have no qualms about my tax dollars helping out those with diseases but the first step needs to be taken by the individual. What song would you be singing if it had gone real bad and someone you loved was on board..........Ya I thought so.

[FICU]

It's entirely possible the pilot in question admitted what he did to the company and the RCMP.

[tbaylx]

Since when is a breathalyzer notoriously inaccurate. There are thousands of DUI's that stand up in court from breathalyzer samples. I have seen the carnage alcohol does on the road first hand and have zero pity and zero tolerance for operating anything while impaired. These are choices people make and last I checked you needed to be an adult to hold a ATPL thus you are responsible for your actions. Stop the pity party and don't blame the company. We know nothing about the paper trail and for them to have fired him you can bet your paycheck they were well within their rights. Why is it that there are always the bleeding hearts that want to defend a stupid choice someone makes. I have no qualms about my tax dollars helping out those with diseases but the first step needs to be taken by the individual. What song would you be singing if it had gone real bad and someone you loved was on board..........Ya I thought so.

Breathalyzers have known issues since they have come out..it isn't news. That is why a blood test is necessary, otherwise they'd just use the breathalyzer. Google it if you want to educate yourself.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Breathalyz ... ted_States

A number of scientists who have conducted studies of breath-alcohol analysis have concurred with Dr. Hlastala in concluding that breathalyzer accuracy is inherently unreliable. Thus, for example, a recent study determined that breath readings vary at least 15 percent from actual blood alcohol levels. (Simpson, Accuracy and Precision of Breath-Alcohol Measurements for a Random Subject in the Postabsorptive State, 33(2) Clinical Chemistry 261 (1987)). Furthermore, at least 23 percent of all individuals tested will have breath results in excess of true blood-alcohol levels. The author concluded that, "[g]iven the choice, it would seem that if a conclusion is to be made about the BAC of a random subject, especially when the conclusion can have serious consequences, it would be far preferable to make it on the basis of a direct [blood] measurement...."

etc...

[Go Guns]

An internal company investigation has already concluded that the captain of the aircraft “contravened Canadian North’s strict policy prohibiting the consumption of alcohol within twelve hours of reporting for duty,” the company said.

The company said the pilot also breached a Transport Canada regulation that prohibits the consumption of alcohol within eight hours of acting as a crew member.

These two sentences lead me to believe they've got much more evidence to go on than a breathalyzer test. You can bet that Canadian North is very aware of when they can and can't fire somebody.

[mag check]

The pilot, detained by the RCMP in Qikiqtarjuaq May 31 after flying a De Havilland Dash 8 passenger aircraft into the community from Iqaluit, faces a possible criminal investigation for consuming alcohol while operating an aircraft, a Transport Canada incident report said June 4.

It would appear he was drinking while actually flying, so I don't think that breathalyser or blood tests would be necessary in this case.