Alcohol and Aviation: They Don't Mix

It’s challenging enough flying a high performance aircraft stone sober. Lord help the pilot that’s even slightly impaired. The FAA strongly agrees with that sentiment. That’s why the Eight Hours Bottle to Throttle rule was instituted (FAR 91.17). Likewise, if a pilot gets even one Driving While Impaired (DWI) conviction, all hell breaks loose. The FAA assumes that if you are dumb enough to drink while driving you just might be dumb enough to drink while flying. In other words, they are trying to keep you from killing you and your passengers.

Let’s assume for a minute that in spite o...