Pilot Intoxication Lawyers

Personal Injury Lawyers Serving Tucson, Phoenix, Flagstaff and all Arizona cities and communities

Due to the nature of aircraft travel, airplane pilots cannot afford to make serious mistakes while flying. Any mistake made while the plane is moving at hundreds of miles per hour, tens of thousands of feet above ground, has the potential to result in the deaths of everyone onboard. When a pilot or copilot gets into the cockpit while intoxicated, they put their lives and those of all crew members and passengers at risk. Because of this, there are federal regulations in place regarding a pilot’s blood alcohol level prior to flight.

If you have lost someone you love to an airplane accident caused by an intoxicated pilot, then you deserve to take legal action against the company that hired such a negligent individual and failed to ensure his or her sobriety prior to takeoff. The Tucson, Phoenix, and Flagstaff pilot intoxication lawyers of Miller, Pitt, Feldman & McAnally, P.C. can help you confront the responsible party in court. Call our offices today to speak with one of our experienced attorneys.

Federal Regulations

According to reported statistics on plane accidents, approximately 50% of all incidents are a result of pilot error. Because pilot error is associated with such a high percentage of accidents, strict federal regulations are in place to ensure that pilots operate the aircraft in the safest manner possible. With regards to alcohol and drugs, these policies are especially strict. Pilots must adhere to the following rules:

• Cannot operate as an aircraft crewmember within 8 hours after consuming alcohol
• Cannot act as a crewmember while under any influence of alcohol
• Cannot serve as a crewmember under the influence of any mentally inhibiting drugs
• Cannot operate as a crewmember with 0.04 BAC

As one can see, the BAC level is half the allowable limit for car or truck drivers, and there is a time policy in place regarding alcohol consumption, as well. These policies were put in place with good reason; unfortunately, they are not always followed.