Oh %great% - drunk flying astronauts

[Greebo]

http://wbal.com/news/story.asp?articleid=61194

The publication Aviation Week & Space Technology has posted a report on its website saying a panel reviewing astronaut health issues in the wake of the Lisa Nowak arrest has found that on at least two occasions astronauts were allowed to fly after flight surgeons and other astronauts warned they were so intoxicated that they posed a flight-safety risk.

 

[RotaryWingBob]

Sure gives you the warm fuzzies...

 

[KennyFlys]

There's something missing here. I have a hard time buying such could be missed before an atmospheric flight let alone a space flight.

When I was in the Navy, they royally nailed any non-flight squadron member for drug use or drunk on duty. I can't imagine what they would do to a flight officer or enlisted flight crew.

Maybe Ron and Greg can answer to that one.

 

[ScottM]

My name... José Jiménez, I always take a blast before I take off

 

[poadeleted20]

When I was in the Navy, they royally nailed any non-flight squadron member for drug use or drunk on duty. I can't imagine what they would do to a flight officer or enlisted flight crew.

Maybe Ron and Greg can answer to that one.

I can't speak to the way things are today, but I suspect the services are death on anyone caught crossing that line.

OTOH, back in the day (and I'm talking from the Vietnam Era all the way back to the 30's), there were probably a lot more cases of folks flying with BAT's above the FAA's 0.04 limit than the military would care to admit (assuming the brass didn't just pretend it wasn't happening). In most cases, that was probably due to overindulgence the night before to the point that there were significant blood alcohol levels well beyond 12 hours after the last drink, but in some, it was no doubt due to drinking too late and flying too early (i.e., 2 am bar closure and 0700 takeoff). In addition, I'm pretty sure that there were alcoholic flyers who were drinking directly before flying, but again, that was in the day when excessive alcohol consumption among aviators was glamorized rather than stigmatized.

 

[bbchien]

As I repeatedly point out to the "fringies" who keep railing how "unfair!' is CAMI about SSRIs, that with Oberstar report, The IG report, and this, the time is NOT right to rail and cajole for loosening.

These pilots hurt us all. Just like the 4800 pilots who can't find their way around the old ADIZ. I hope the new DME based one will work better, but we have to clean our own house, for jeep's sake.....

 

[2002 Harv]

The report I heard was that some were close to and might have gone over the NASA 13 hour limit...... So those people have a longer bottle to throttle than we do.
The co. that I fly for used to have a 10 hour limit but eventually changed it to 8. I think it was because we tecniclly couldn't be off duty and have work tell us what to do. Pluss we had a bunch of Nancys ratting other pilots out....

John

 

[PhantomCougar]

I doubt the astronauts in question were the 2 specific astronauts that have duties during launch phase... that being the commander and the pilot (the remaining just sit and enjoy the ride, ie drunk passengers). Though with NASA's bad luck this year, anything wouldn't surprise me anymore.

 

[Bill M.]

Maybe NASA should fill out a NASA ASRS report.
"We got drunk, flew around a bit, landed, put on diaper, drove across country, tried to kill lover's girlfriend."

 

[KennyFlys]

Maybe NASA should fill out a NASA ASRS report.
"We got drunk, flew around a bit, landed, put on diaper, drove across country, tried to kill lover's girlfriend."

That wouldn't get ya out of trouble on an intentional FAA violation.

I'm not sure about the attempted murder. B)

 

[poadeleted20]

(the remaining just sit and enjoy the ride, ie drunk passengers)

The launch phase doesn't last long, and the mission specialists usually have important tasks as soon as orbit is achieved. In addition, everyone has to be sharp in case of an emergency abort or egress on the ground.

 

[PhantomCougar]

The launch phase doesn't last long, and the mission specialists usually have important tasks as soon as orbit is achieved. In addition, everyone has to be sharp in case of an emergency abort or egress on the ground.

8 minutes 40 seconds to be exact.

I do not condone this by any means. The NASA astronaut corp has been disappointing to me all year, what with the Nowak issue last spring and now this, just because of a few bad apples.

 

[mikea]

< begin name dropping >

We overheard Jim Lovell laughing with Gene Cernan that Cernan claimed Lovell had a vodka before flying Apollo 13.

Now I know what they were referring to.

< end name dropping >

Sadly, only this old man knew who they were.

 

[tlglenn]

This alcohol issue is getting out of control. Recently, I had to take away my co-pilot's medical certificate: