Northwest Pilot Arrested on Drug Charge

[RamboLiberal]

Source: breitbart.com/AP

An off-duty Northwest Airlines pilot was suspected of driving under the influence of cocaine when he headed the wrong way on an interstate to avoid the U.S.-Canada border and led deputies on a chase, authorities said Sunday.

Investigators said Walter L. Dinalko, a veteran pilot of 20 years, had flown to Detroit Metropolitan Airport Saturday afternoon and then rented a Hummer that he drove about 70 miles to Port Huron.

Dinalko turned around three times on the Blue Water Bridge, apparently changing his mind about heading into Sarnia, Ontario, said St. Clair County sheriff's Lt. A.J. Foster.

He then drove on the wrong side of the bridge and Interstate 94, Foster said.



Read more: http://www.breitbart.com/article.php?id=D8OHDAEG0&show_article=1

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And I remember someone here last week on the crash that killed Bob Clark the director of A Christmas Story arguing that drivers under the influence of cocaine aren't dangerous.

And Northwest is sure having some pilot problems - last week it was the cursing pilot!

[truthisfreedom]

1. Ack! Don't they drug-test pilots?

Please?

[Psephos]

3. Yes, they do

About four times a year, randomly, for already-certified pilots and first officers.

Cocaine is detectable for 2-4 days after use. Chronic/heavy users may stay detectable for longer.

[truthisfreedom]

5. That's too short. They should do hair clippings.

Pilots are the very last people we need on drugs.

[mn9driver]

7. Don't forget blood tests and stool samples.

-before and after every flight. And be sure you check their emails and internet browsing habits. Phone records are easily obtainable with just a minor legislative effort, so let's include those. Pilot medical records should be freely available to Homeland Security, the FBI and concerned citizen groups, too.

The parallels between the need to feel "Safe From Pilots" and "Safe From Terrorists" are interesting.

[PassingFair]

2. Sounds like the poor bastard was trying to....

use up the rest of his stash before he hit customs!

Bads strategy!

[mn9driver]

4. Northwest is having pilot problems because the pilots have lost

their pensions, health benefits, sick pay and 40 percent of their regular pay over the last two years. They are now required to be on the road, away from their families up to 21 days per month. The other employees at NWA took huge cuts also. The executives didn't. Alcohol abuse, spousal abuse, divorce, suicide, foreclosure and personal bankruptcy are all way up among airline employees in general, and NWA employees in particular.

The top 400 managers at NWA are going to split $400 million when they exit Chapter 11 this spring. A fitting reward for their fine work in destroying another organized employee group.

You can expect to see more breakdowns like this. And yes, airline pilots are drug and alcohol tested on a regular basis. The best part of it is that the FAA will yank the medical certificate of any pilot who indicates that he or she needs help, so counseling has to be obtained very carefully, lest you lose your job. Medication is out of the question.

The problem isn't unique to NWA. All passenger airlines have done the same, albeit to a lesser extent, to their pilot groups. Freight pilots on the other hand, make two to three times the salary of passenger pilots and work an average of 12 or 13 days per month.

Of course, shipping a 200 pound overnight package round trip from Boston to Los Angeles costs over $2000, while a passenger ticket for the same route costs $238. Enjoy those low fares; the employees of the passenger airline industry are paying for them.

[RamboLiberal]

6. I can't agree with you more about what they are doing to the

people who crew the aircraft and who have our lives in their hands. It's a crime. I want well paid professionals in the cabin and on the flight deck and it's about time the airlines start charging what a flight is really worth and not these insane low prices.

Just like many jobs in this country they've turned what once was well-paid careers with good pensions in to jobs barely above fast-food.

[BlueCollar]

8. Bravo!!!!!

As an airline employee I couldn't have said it better myself...