NCAA Withdraws License of Three Pilots over Excess Alcohol Intake

Chinedu Eze

The Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) has withdrawn the license of three Nigerian pilots who allegedly took alcohol when they were about to operate their flights.

According to sources, aviation experts frown on this because it infringes on safety. Besides, it is one of the critical rules that must be obeyed by pilots. A pilot is prohibited from taking alcohol three hours before flight time.

THISDAY spoke to some pilots and other experts in the industry who confirmed that prohibition of alcohol intake shortly before flight was clearly stated in their licences as one of the things a pilot must not do three hours before fight.

They consequence they said could be plane crash or a major incident. It was learnt that if a pilot is caught with alcohol during random testing at the ramp, his license is withdrawn but how long the pilot would be made not to fly is discretionary.

But a seasoned pilot and presently aircraft inspector told THISDAY that the NCAA should go further than withdrawing the pilots’ licences to find out why they took to alcohol, pointing out that the pilots might have taken to drinking due to stress, frustration, family problem or even depression.

He recalled the tragic incident of Germanwings Flight 9525, where a depressed pilot crashed the plane with all the passengers.

The pilot admitted however, that it is rare to see pilots with alcohol in their breath, because it is a major offence but blamed the airline for not testing the pilots before the regulatory body did and suggested that the airlines involved should also be sanctioned.

“Such incident is very, very rare but very irresponsible. Some pilots are actually drunkards but they don’t drink during flight. There is need to investigate to know the root cause of the drinking. NCAA did the right thing but it should not only end in withdrawing their license; that is what those who don’t have intrinsic interest in the industry do; they should investigate it further,” the pilot suggested.

He also noted that without the finding the drinking could have resulted in an accident and if the incident was not investigated further the situation could degenerate.

“If it is stress, family problem or whatever, the person ought not to come to work, but I must tell you that operators (airlines) mount so much pressure on the pilots, so the operators should be fined for not detecting this before NCAA did. But NCAA, I must say, did a good job but they should go further to find out the root cause of their problem that led them to take alcohol while on duty.”

http://www.thisdaylive.com/index.php/2016/06/17/airlines-to-save-n30bn-annually-from-local-refining-of-jet-a1/

Quite bad of the pilots to drink and fly.

Good step

But where is lalasticlala sef

I am sure its the following airlines

Hako
Chanchagi
Bellview

rrr

Dem wan dey see cloud for ground ni

what should i even type now.....

Phew.omo that kind risk eh.

Even pilots get drunk on duty.

Like Pilot like Danfo driver.

Agbo you mean to say?

I think say na only Danfo drivers dey drink shepe before they fire bus. Smh

Nice move.....


(Sips shekpe.)

Well, if they knew that it was wrong, and they still did it, they had their reasons.

Bad market for them.

Drinking to your place of work is one of the worst thing an employee can do smhn for them

No name(s) sef.Op no try at all.

This is how the pilot will fly the plane after drinking kaikai and smoking calabar weed

You that do not work in brewery, what about your dreams? Are they shattered?

Oops
Their rule book is messed up.
3 hours no drink rule is no rule.

Scientific testing should be the parameter for determining drunkenness and not duration.

Large amounts of spirit will inhabit your mind and body much longer than laarger.

Another Sosolisso abi Bellview ni ki ba tun ti sele. Eledumare gbawa o.

I think there is a mistake in the report, Alcohol intake is not allowed less than EIGHT ( Hours before any flight

So for them to have tested positve to excessive alcohol 3hrs before a flight is a BIG BIG worry for airlines

CFCman:
NCAA Withdraws License of Three Pilots over Excess Alcohol Intake
Chinedu Eze
http://www.thisdaylive.com/index.php/2016/06/17/airlines-to-save-n30bn-annually-from-local-refining-of-jet-a1/

You that do not work in brewery, what about your dreams? Are they shattered?

Junk reporting. it's 8hrs before flight and not any useless 3hrs. Whoever gave them 3hrs must have just finished drinking too to have spewed out that trash.

please they should stop them from flying until they repent. Air has no bone...

please they should stop them from flying until they repent. Air has no bone... Before they'll start seeing bulu bulu and end up land in Lagos Atlanta .

What's the Aircraft Inspector ranting about? I'm thinking he knew of this irresponsible act yet he chose to watch. Why is he blaming the airlines now? Did he suggest these before now? Oh, he's trying to snitch so some others would be shown the way out .

Just imagine the unprofessional conduct of the pilots

Only God knows how many Danfo drivers will pass the alcohol test while on the steering!

Just imagine

The movie 'Flight' starring Denzel Washington and Don Cheadle comes to mind.