Aeroflot says drunk pilot 'no big deal'

[expat]

"It's not such a big deal if the pilot is drunk," one representative said, according to the English-language Moscow Times, which had a reporter on board.

"Really, all he has to do is press a button and the plane flies itself. [glow=yellow,2,300]The worst that could happen is he'll trip over something in the cockpit."
[/glow]

No big deal, it was his birthday

Matt

[Sir_Crashalot]

Great. After the next party I'll just put my car on cruise control and I'll have an excuse to tell the police...

Crash

[Romulus111VADT]

Wonder how many future customers have this stored in a safe place to use as evidence in all future law suites as as proof of Aeroflot careless disregard of their passengers and the general public's safety.

It's far more important for a pilot to have a good time at his birthday party. So the welfare and safety of his passengers and crew account for nothing. I never realized that one man could be so important....

I can just imagine that being said about world leaders that only need to push one button to get the ball rolling.....

See Below

[H]

Great. After the next party I'll just put my car on cruise control and I'll have an excuse to tell the police...

I don't know how well they fared against highway tickets but, after their RV failed to successfully 'cruise' to the destination (after setting the cruise control they went to the back to rest), someone tried suing the manufacturer for a 'misleading' feature.

8-)

[Hagar]

Great. After the next party I'll just put my car on cruise control and I'll have an excuse to tell the police...

I don't know how well they fared against highway tickets but, after their RV failed to successfully 'cruise' to the destination (after setting the cruise control they went to the back to rest), someone tried suing the manufacturer for a 'misleading' feature.

I think that's an urban legend with no basis in fact. http://www.snopes.com/autos/techno/cruise.asp

[Sean_TK]

This is shocking, and I'm wondering if there is more to the story than the British media is willing to reveal or acknowledge.

[Hagar]

[quote]This is shocking, and I'm wondering if there is more to the story than the British media is willing to reveal or acknowledge.

[Sean_TK]

Ah, there we go...that's what I was looking for.....well........again, that's certainly shocking. I definitely will be avoiding doing any business with Aeroflot in the future.

[OVERLORD_CHRIS]

So people were shocked that Russian pilots were drinking? Weird, very weird, I thought this was normal practice.  And besides they have a point, after you put all the info into the Mission Computer, or what every civilian jets have, the plane will fly it self, while the pilot sucks down some fresh pure oxygen getting sober.

And in all car owners book, it tells you that cruise control is no substitute for actually driving the car.  

[BFMF]

And besides they have a point, after you put all the info into the Mission Computer, or what every civilian jets have, the plane will fly it self, while the pilot sucks down some fresh pure oxygen getting sober.

An aircraft may be on autopilot while in cruise, but that doesn't mean that flight crews don't have responsibilities. Alcohol affects judgment, it reduces attention, and slows reaction speed. There is a reason why you shouldn't drive while under the influence, and pilots drinking during, or prior to flying should not be tolerated.

If something were to happen mid-flight, wouldn't you want your flightcrew to be able to react accordingly?

[OVERLORD_CHRIS]

And besides they have a point, after you put all the info into the Mission Computer, or what every civilian jets have, the plane will fly it self, while the pilot sucks down some fresh pure oxygen getting sober.

An aircraft may be on autopilot while in cruise, but that doesn't mean that flight crews don't have responsibilities. Alcohol affects judgment, it reduces attention, and slows reaction speed. There is a reason why you shouldn't drive while under the influence, and pilots drinking during, or prior to flying should not be tolerated.

If something were to happen mid-flight, wouldn't you want your flightcrew to be able to react accordingly?

Pilots have been flying drunk since the 60's, and Russian pilots have been notorious for this. But the guy was hung over, not plastered, from the night before. Pure Oxygen does wonders for your hang over, according to many pilots I know. It's not like they drink on the plane....as far as we know.

[The Ruptured Duck]

The Airbus-generation pilots

[Anxyous]

The spokesperson sounds much like the instant-airline captains we get here...

"How do I autoland?"

"Why won't my 747 turn 150 degrees to intercept the ILS 3/4 mile away from the airport at 240 knots?"

[JBaymore]

[quote]

[expat]

The Airbus-generation pilots

Except it was a Boeing 767

Matt