Saturday, July 29, 2006 - 03:43:07 ET

420 On The Flight Deck

"You'll never hear pilots announce to their passengers that they’re smoking a joint before takeoff so they can relax and enjoy the flight." I seriously hope not.

I discovered this site through a blog I read regularly.

Pilots are not tested for drugs. At least, you dont need a drug test to get your Transport Canada certificate.

I never really thought about it until now. I think it is a smart idea for pilots to get drug tested. Then again, I don't recall ever reading a TSB report on an airplane crash because the pilot was high on street drugs.

Comments (4) | Permalink | Category: Interesting Things

In my opinion most pilots have a sense of responsibility when they get their license and would not put their passengers into danger; however what stops them from doing it after a flight? Marijuana is not necessarily a very dangerous or addicting hallucinogen but what I'd be more concerned with is more harder chemical drugs that when a person gets addicted to feens for it and depends on it? That would really be my concern.

Posted by: Tigurius on Saturday, July 29, 2006 - 16:46:02

There was a short news item in today's Toronto Star about a pilot being relieved of his duties over the weekend on a charter flight out of Boston because customs agents smelled alcohol on his breath and determined that he was unfit to fly. Drinking and flying == bad!

Posted by: Julian on Tuesday, August 1, 2006 - 00:42:25

There are a number of such accidents in the NTSB database.

Here's a Lear pilot who apparently went aft to do coke with the passengers during flight:
http://www.ntsb.gov/NTSB/brief2.asp?ev_id=20001211X13393&ntsbno=FTW93FA255&akey=1

Posted by: Aviatrix on Thursday, August 3, 2006 - 13:45:31

Here's another one that I remembered from a few years ago as particularly irresponsible.

http://www.ntsb.gov/NTSB/brief2.asp?ev_id=20001206X02543&ntsbno=ATL95FA013&akey=1

Posted by: Aviatrix on Thursday, August 3, 2006 - 13:49:39