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JAL says pilot evaded breath tests over 100 times since last year

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Alcohol tests are currently not mandatory in Japan and there is no set legal limit.

There are no limits? Seriously?

11 ( +12 / -1 )

"According to JAL, the pilot, who has flown 180 services since the summer of 2017, avoided taking breathalyzer tests 110 times during that period. There were also 49 cases in which his co-pilots did not take breathalyzer tests, it said."

Incredible...

"JAL has not decided how to reprimand the pilots."

Slap on the wrist?

10 ( +11 / -1 )

There is obviously a huge drinking culture, pilots, cabin crew and engineers!, that's a worry. But as there is no legal limit and a loophole that doesn't require breath tests who cares, in the words of a teenager whahoooo. I love the bit where she said she had not been drinking and then tested positive...the matter is still being investigated. Classic.

5 ( +6 / -1 )

The 52-year-old captain in the latest incident to come to light told the company he did not take the breath tests because JAL's regulations did not stipulate alcohol tests.

Right, and I get the feeling that everyone is assuming that he drank a lot too!

"JAL has not decided how to reprimand the pilots."

JAL had better be careful about IF they reprimand the pilots at all. If there were no rules or regulations stipulating that they, the tests, were mandatory, they can not legally speaking as far as I know, "grandfather" them and reprimand them for past conduct.

JAL would be opening themselves up to potential legal action.

Going forward is a TOTALLY different story.

6 ( +6 / -0 )

As others have said, you can't suddenly start enforcing rules ... that don't exist. The co. itself should say we've erred for far too long and from now on we'll be stricter.

This kind of runs counter to Japan writ large which has so many rules, regulations and laws, many of which are flatly ignored.

7 ( +7 / -0 )

The mouthwash excuse is hogwash. You just make the subject sit there for 20 minutes then test them again . The mouthwash alcohol will have evaporated by then.

6 ( +6 / -0 )

The pilot caught at Heathrow recently used mouthwash in a stupid attempt to prevent detection. The police just waited.

5 ( +5 / -0 )

I guess we all really DO walk around with a sword hanging above our heads.

4 ( +4 / -0 )

Any pilot drinking before a flight is severely lacking in commonsense......

5 ( +6 / -1 )

Do not use JAL as it is too expensive.

Feel safe.

No need to reprimand the pilot and put the story on light as the test is not mandatory but rather yourself as a company and change the rules. If deemed.

0.10mg is a vet low limit for flight attendants.

After their welcome champagne glass, all executives in the Business class will be well over

1 ( +1 / -0 )

The second test detected 0.15 milligram of alcohol in her breath, exceeding 0.10 mg which JAL sees as a threshold in deciding whether to allow pilots to board planes, but the 46-year-old crew member said she had not drunk any alcohol since Friday and repeatedly used mouthwash during the flight, according to the airline. The airline said it will continue to investigate the matter.

So, is JAL saying the flight attendants are under the same rules and regulations as the pilots?

Got to ask this attendant if she was so hard up for a drink that she needed to "drink" her mouthwash? Lol!

And there is a distinct difference in "smell" between mouthwash and alcohol. Me thinks she has a wee drinking problem!

For example, original formula Listerine is about 54 proof with 26.9% alcohol, and many of the mint flavored mouthwashes are almost 22% alcohol. The alcoholcontent of Scope weighs in at 18.9%, and Cepacol at 14%. ... It may seem unbelievable that anyone would drink mouthwash, hand sanitizer, or hair spray.

>

0 ( +1 / -1 )

I'm just glad I'm flying out tonight with ANA

2 ( +3 / -1 )

Japan Airlines Co has found that one of its pilots has evaded breathalyzer tests before flights over 100 times since last year,

nice to see Oversite was top notch

3 ( +3 / -0 )

JAL has not decided how to reprimand the pilots.

Firstly, they should be fired. Then, they should have their pilot's licence revoked and be facing criminal charges. But, because Japan has no laws governing the abuse of alcohol by airline pilots (roll eyes), they will receive a three month pay-cut and be made to apologise.

8 ( +10 / -2 )

The second test detected 0.15 milligram of alcohol in her breath, exceeding 0.10 mg which JAL sees as a threshold in deciding whether to allow pilots to board planes,

I'm pretty sure this should be, 0.015mm and 0.01mg respectively. I doubt if anybody could walk at 0.15mg.

2 ( +2 / -0 )

If I'm reading it right and from my base line .05 is a standard for legal reasons. Then 0.15 is at the upper end of inebriation. I've tested myself in my youth (stupidity has no ends) and topped out at .185 think the decimal point placement is confusing the issue. I could still walk and be congenial at that level but I have a high tolerance to alcohol. Not a skill I'm particularly proud of. 0.15 is normally smashed, and for a female, body weight, metabolism that's more than repeated use of mouth wash. How long has that been going on and why is her co workers, friends not helping her. And the company's HRs dept.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

This whole sad state of affairs is beyond comprehension.

In a country obssessed with rules, in particular in recent years re alcohol and driving, to find out that there is a "for what it's worth", empty rules re drink flying is mind boggling.

Some serious soul searching needed by the public / private bureaucracies and their despots that rule Japan.

Rules with that throw-away "In principle...", attached are meek & weak reflective of a broken system.

Peoples lives are put in danger in an intolerable manner.

5 ( +5 / -0 )

@Cricky - If I'm reading it right and from my base line .05 is a standard for legal reasons. Then 0.15 is at the upper end of inebriation. 

But, that's not what it states. "exceeding 0.10 mg which JAL sees as a threshold" The legal limit for driving a car in Japan is 0.01mg, but according to this article, you can fly a plain if you are under 0.10mg.

2 ( +2 / -0 )

Yet more incompetence from Japanese management.

Japan has millions of diligent, selfless, hard-working people who deserve better than the country's reputation being repeatedly dragged through the mud in this way. There is a clear pattern where it is upper management at complacent established companies at fault. It is not disinterested underlings messing about in the trenches.

4 ( +4 / -0 )

"JAL has not decided how to reprimand the pilots."

And who reprimands JAL?

10 ( +10 / -0 )

Oh I agree, 0.10 that's a buzz level, a fudge reality level. Does it matter though if legally there is no level set and a system where you can avoid being checked over 100 times in apparently a year? It's like Boys Island in Pinokiyo, do what you want but end up an arse. It's the system that relies on everyone doing their best, and if you don't, everyone does their best to cover it up. When caught their is no excuse at all.

1 ( +1 / -0 )

JAL has not decided how to reprimand the pilots.

As far as reprimands goes, think of the responsibilities they have with passengers lives. I would say a huge fine and points for openers, like for driving. If there's been a history, take their pilots license.

3 ( +3 / -0 )

But, because Japan has no laws governing the abuse of alcohol by airline pilots (roll eyes), they will receive a three month pay-cut and be made to apologise.

I hear you. I'm sure that pilot will give the "Japanese style apology" and maybe reallocated to another job in the company (My eyes are also rolling). That will supposedly be the end of that, with no real firing from the company.

4 ( +4 / -0 )

JAL has not decided how to reprimand the pilots.

How about first the Japanese Government make an example out of JAL and reprimand them? Ban them from airport operations until they cut the crap and actually test every single one of their airplane staff before flights? How about JAL clean house and rid of anyone on top, get rid of the cancer.

I don't ONLY blame the pilots, I would also blame JAL for OBVIOUSLY running a tight ship.

3 ( +3 / -0 )

How many pilots crashed because of a level of 0.1? Pilots are not idiots. 0.1 is a half of a low alcohol beer. There is also a co pilot and an engineer.

the enthusisis should be on the fact that pilots don’t actually fly the planes, computers do. Jamming and hacking and malfunction are far more scary.

-4 ( +1 / -5 )

Planes practically fly themselves these days.

did he also avoid his halitosis test?

-2 ( +0 / -2 )

@Goodluck

Modern aircraft often have a pilot (captain) and co-pilot (first officer) and do not have a flight engineer. Technology eliminated the flight engineer position some time ago.

There should be a zero tolerance policy for those responsible for the lives of 200-300 passengers (or more). JAL has a problem and they are fixing it. Fortunately a major incident has not occurred.

I do acknowledge that there is alot of truth to the last part of your post. Interfering with flight control systems would present quite a problem. Also look at what is going on with drones at Gatwick (I knew this would happen sooner or later).

In the end I think the strong reaction from some people here is warranted and JAL is making the right move.

3 ( +3 / -0 )

Aly RustomToday 08:01 am JST

I'm just glad I'm flying out tonight with ANA

Don't fool yourself, it's the same everywhere.

3 ( +3 / -0 )

What a clever solution. Take the test when you're sober, evade the test when you're drunk.

If they have records indicating he evaded the test 110 times, why didn't they know about it before?JAL should face consequences too, for allowing pilots to endanger the lives of hundreds of people, 110 times!

4 ( +4 / -0 )

People should stop flying JAL until the breaths ARE mandatory, but unfortunately they'd rather fly with a drunk pilot on a JAL flight (made in Japan) than another airline in some cases. I've been throwing a lot of digs at these guys when a friend or co-worker says something in relation to taking a JAL flight (co-worker: I'm flying JAL, but it's a lot more expensive. Me: Well, gotta pay for the pilot's booze, after all), and most of them laugh, which shows me that for a change it's something everyone here knows well enough about. So, the question is, why JAL doesn't do something about it, and why the government doesn't make laws that other nations have.

4 ( +4 / -0 )

I guess a ban would speed things up a bit.

Start with banning them on European flights.

Flying and alcohol should not be tolerated, at all.

Notice that ANA will start using the A380 as well...

1 ( +1 / -0 )

Shouldn't that raise a red flag after a few times?

1 ( +1 / -0 )

Theres no rules around Alcohol level of pilots, huge lack of oversight, fine. Theres no rules around EVADING alcohol test (110 times)? Administer the test volunteerily just to kill some time and waste some resources?

1 ( +1 / -0 )

Rather than single out JAL, how about letting us know about all the other major and budget carriers in Japan. Do they all have this completely BS lack of testing? Hell, do they even require pilot licensing or they just assume the applicants are telling the truth about flight school?

-1 ( +0 / -1 )

Rather than single out JAL, how about letting us know about all the other major and budget carriers in Japan. Do they all have this completely BS lack of testing? Do they even require pilot licensing or they just assume the applicants are telling the truth about flight school?

0 ( +0 / -0 )

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