Drunken pilots handed prison sentences

[GI Joe]

MIAMI - (KRT) - Two former America West pilots appeared dumbfounded Thursday when a Miami-Dade judge sentenced them to prison for operating an aircraft while drunk.

"You could have crashed into homes or neighborhoods," Circuit Court Judge David Young said. "This crime had dramatic proportions."

Young sentenced Thomas Cloyd, of Peoria, Ariz., to five years in prison, the maximum allowed by law. He sentenced Christopher Hughes, of Leander, Texas, to two and one half years in state prison, one and one half years of community control and one year of probation.

Hughes also must complete 250 hours of community service, pay a $5,000 fine, and write a letter of apology to his children. Young ordered Hughes to monitor his children for signs of alcohol abuse when he returns home.

Miami-Dade police arrested Cloyd and Hughes after ordering a tow truck operator to return their Phoenix-bound jet to its gate at Miami International Airport on July 1, 2002.

Prosecutors said Cloyd and Huges where intoxicated when they climbed into the cockpit that morning, following a night of heavy drinking. Hours after their arrest, both pilots had a blood alcohol level higher than Florida's legal limit of .08.

Afterwards, America West fired the two men, and both lost their commercial pilots licenses.

During their trial, witnesses testified that Cloyd and Hughes ran up a $122 bar tab, drinking seven 34-ounce and seven 16-ounce Sierra Nevada beers hours before their scheduled departure time. After a Miami-Dade jury convicted them on June 8, both men wept.


cont.
http://www.tallahassee.com/mld/tallahassee/news/nation/12190927.htm



those ****ers got off easy.

[eugene40]

Hell yea they did! Though I have been on many a plane ride that it would have made a lot of sense if the pilots were drunk.

Driving a Car alone drunk is a dangerous undertaking. I can't even think about what would happen with a commercial airline filled with passengers.

[USViking]

These guys drank almost 15 12-oz. beers apiece.

Good thing they were caught.

[GI Joe]

Hell yea they did! Though I have been on many a plane ride that it would have made a lot of sense if the pilots were drunk.

Driving a Car alone drunk is a dangerous undertaking. I can't even think about what would happen with a commercial airline filled with passengers.


No ****.
Just think if they crashed in a populated area. Thank god they didnt.


I hope Bubba has a good time with them.

[eugene40]

No ****.
Just think if they crashed in a populated area. Thank god they didnt.


I hope Bubba has a good time with them.


Bubba like's boys like these. You should take a tour of a prison one time when newbies come in. It is like watching the eyes of hyenas when they smell fresh meat on Animal Planet. It sure aint pretty.

[Jarlaxle]

They got off much too easy...they should both be executed.

[eugene40]

They got off much too easy...they should both be executed.


That is a little drastic there Jar....

[jamesrage]

That is a little drastic there Jar....

I would disagree,becasue if no one caught them there could have been a whole plane full of people dead.

[Jarlaxle]

What he said.

[Mirror Lake 444]

I personally think it was too severe, but you can bet other pilots are thinking twice about drinkng and flying.

They already have no more flying career. They were probably distinquished air force pilots before they became commercial pilots. They apparently have an alcoholic addicition -- they're not crimminals. Once they had a few drinks "what they were thinking" is irrelavent as judgement impairment takes over.

As far as Bubba's boys your comments are disgusting. :rolleyes:

[Djj1973]

These guys drank almost 15 12-oz. beers apiece.

Good thing they were caught.


Jesus how did they expect not to be caught?

[eugene40]

I would disagree,becasue if no one caught them there could have been a whole plane full of people dead.


Granted, yet in the US legal system. You can not execute them on an IF...

[USViking]

Jesus how did they expect not to be caught?


I would like to know who turned them in-
the link does not say.

Was it bar customers or employees? Passengers?
Stewardesses?

They seem to have gotten as far as taxiing
on the runway, which is way too frecken far!

They must have reeked of alcohol; I would
think the investigation should have been
extended to other airline personnel to determine
how they got as far as they did.

[USViking]

I would like to know who turned them in-
the link does not say.

Was it bar customers or employees? Passengers?
Stewardesses?

They seem to have gotten as far as taxiing
on the runway, which is way too frecken far!

They must have reeked of alcohol; I would
think the investigation should have been
extended to other airline personnel to determine
how they got as far as they did.

I checked a few more links, and this one relates
alert security guards smelled alcohol on the
pilots' breath, and reported them:

http://www.courttv.com/trials/pilots/060805_verdict_ctv.html#continue

(quote from the link):
"Authorities were put on alert after security guards said they detected the smell of alcohol on Hughes as he passed through a security checkpoint at Miami International Airport."

Chrissake, didn't anyone else notice?

Also, they did were not yet taxiing, and were
being towed with the engines off when the
authorities took action.

[Captain America]

Is it correct to say that one smells alcohol on one's breath? Since alcohol is odorless and colorless??

Perhaps it is more accurate to say "alcoholic beverages?"

[The_Penguin]

Bubba like's boys like these. You should take a tour of a prison one time when newbies come in. It is like watching the eyes of hyenas when they smell fresh meat on Animal Planet. It sure aint pretty.
Now that would make a great TV reality show ;) .

[Mirror Lake 444]

Is it correct to say that one smells alcohol on one's breath? Since alcohol is odorless and colorless??

Perhaps it is more accurate to say "alcoholic beverages?"

A little nit picky on wording aren't we? ;)

[Mirror Lake 444]

Now that would make a great TV reality show ;) .


It's already been done in sense and filmed. Boys that are going down the path of lawlessness are given a tour of a prison. Immates don't hold back on their comments. It's quite effective. :)

[The_Penguin]

It's already been done in sense and filmed. Boys that are going down the path of lawlessness are given a tour of a prison. Immates don't hold back on their comments. It's quite effective. :)
Nah, I want to see some serious arse-kicking on live TV :) .

[Mirror Lake 444]

Nah, I want to see some serious arse-kicking on live TV :) .

Yeah like Reality shows are really real. :rolleyes:

[USViking]

This has gotten to be a jail thread becuse genesomebody made it this way.

Fine, gene: I have no doubt you enforce law well.

Instead of telling us what the pilots are gonna get, could you tell us how to keep pllots out of jail?

YOU are a Law Enforcement Officer, right?
YOU cannot make fun of any crime, and be within the realm of Morality.

[eugene40]

This has gotten to be a jail thread becuse genesomebody made it this way.

Fine, gene: I have no doubt you enforce law well.

Instead of telling us what the pilots are gonna get, could you tell us how to keep pllots out of jail?

YOU are a Law Enforcement Officer, right?
YOU cannot make fun of any crime, and be within the realm of Morality.


I didn't initially make it into a jail thread I just carried on to a previous statement.

Well only pilots can keep pilots out of jail if they commit no crimes then they have no problem. If they don't show up to work trashed violating several FAA regulations then they are ok.

I was and soon will be again.
And I can make make fun of any crime I wish. Just one of the many perks of being me. And you must not know many cops. We certainly are not the basins of morality that you might think we should be. We are human and thus susceptible to human flaws. Including making fun of people where we feel necessary. ;)

[USViking]

I didn't initially make it into a jail thread I just carried on to a previous statement.
Excuses stink.



Well only pilots can keep pilots out of jail if they commit no crimes then they have no problem. If they don't show up to work trashed violating several FAA regulations then they are ok.
Great, Gene.


was and soon will be again.
What's that, Gene?- I already forgot.




And I can make make fun of any crime I wish.
No one ever has, in good conscience.



Just one of the many perks of being me.
Whadda'ya mean?!

I can make as much fun as you, or anyone.
That make it right, Geno?




And you must not know many cops. We certainly are not the basins of morality that you might think we should be.
What the hell is a "basin of morality"?

Am I asking too much for you to be more moral than me,
if you are going to impose the law on me?




We are human and thus susceptible to human flaws. Including making fun of people where we feel necessary. ;)
First sentance above is a truism.

Second is ducking the answer.

[eugene40]

[QUOTE]Excuses stink.
Yup they do... But if you want me to own up to something.. I thought it would be funny.




Great, Gene.
thanks



What's that, Gene?- I already forgot.
You might want to get that checked by a Doctor...




No one ever has, in good conscience.
Who said it stemmed from a good Conscience.


Whadda'ya mean?!
There are benefits to being me.

I can make as much fun as you, or anyone.
That make it right, Geno?
If that floats your boat, feel free. I have been called every name in the book (and a lot of names not even in any book) am I used to it. Does it make it right I don't know depends on your definition of right. What is right for some might not be for others.

What the hell is a "basin of morality"?
We aren't a container of everything moral.

Am I asking too much for you to be more moral than me,
if you are going to impose the law on me?

Well you can ask me to do my job to the definitions and laws put for by cities states and the federal government. And do it well. And I will. But I can still have a personal opinion. And a personal life. And my own set of morals. Goes to the whole human thing.

Second is ducking the answer.

Not really, it just isn't an answer you particularly like or agree with.

[Captain America]

Not really, it just isn't an answer you particularly like or agree with.

Or comprehend.

I heard ya loud and clear E40.

Wassa matta Vike? Why ya bustin' the brother's balls? :touche:


I laugh my head off sometimes when I read the crime page or watch Cops and my conscience is fine. Get that potato chip off of your shoulder and relax. We're all friends here. :beer:

The only recorded group of morally pure law enforcement officers that I am aware of were The Knights Templar. But the early RCC laid waste to those guys. (Couldn't let it be known that rightousness existed outside the church. :rolleyes: ) They knew too much. :eek:

[The_Penguin]

Yeah like Reality shows are really real. :rolleyes:
Well, most of them are crap and I don't watch them, but I'll make an exception about this one.