Quote:
Originally Posted by Larchap49
Motto used to be 24 hrs bottle to throttle, now it's 12 hrs. That's progress I guess
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The rule for American pilots is eight hours, bottle-to-throttle; at least it was in 2019, unless it has changed:
14 CFR § 91.17
a) No person may act or attempt to act as a crewmember of a civil aircraft –
(1) Within 8 hours after the consumption of any alcoholic beverage;
(2) While under the influence of alcohol;
(3) While using any drug that affects the person’s faculties in any way contrary to safety; or
(4) While having an alcohol concentration of 0.04 or greater in a blood or breath specimen. Alcohol concentration means grams of alcohol per deciliter of blood or grams of alcohol per 210 liters of breath
The above was issued to clarify the rule in question which was deemed confusing. The new revision was issued, it was rumored, so that even the drunkest pilot could understand it. It takes the average-sized male about 5 hours to completely sober up from .08 BAC but if you're an habitually heavy drinker, a binge of even up to .20 is not uncommon, and then sobering up could take time well into the next day.
Scary. For my part I think every ATP pilot should be subject to a breathalyzer test before he or she boards the aircraft. They're not the most accurate way of measuring BAC but even the reality of having to face such a test the morning after would be enough, I would think, to alert Mr. or Ms. Pilot to the fact that they should practice moderation the night before.