A 50-year-old Finnish pilot has admitted preparing to fly an aircraft while under the influence of alcohol. The pilot pleaded guilty to the charge at a magistrates’ court hearing in Manchester, England on Wednesday.
The man was breathalysed by police officers and arrested at Manchester Airport at the end of August. When the police arrived in the cockpit, the pilot, who was then employed by Finnair, was doing pre-flight checks prior to taking a Boeing 757 on an early-morning Air Scandic flight from Manchester to Dalaman in Turkey. The plane was to carry some 225 holidaymakers.
According to international flight regulations, the upper limit for alcohol is 0.2 ppm. A blood test taken shortly after the man’s arrest showed a figure of nearly 0.5 ppm. The pilot was suspended by Finnair after his arrest and subsequently resigned on his own initiative.
Following the pilot’s appearance at Trafford Magistrates’ Court, the case will go forward for sentencing in Manchester Crown Court in December.
According to the Manchester Evening News, the prosecutor recommended the case be deferred to the higher court since the magistrates would be empowered only to hand out fines. A custodial sentence is also possible from the Crown Court. The magistrates accepted this proposal, and the pilot was released on bail.
The case will also be examined later in Finland. The Finnish Flight Safety Authority will determine the fate of the pilot’s licence following the court ruling. The various possible outcomes include a warning or the temporary or permanent suspension of the pilot’s commercial licence. Any such suspension would have worldwide effect.
When contacted by Helsingin Sanomat, the pilot was unwilling to comment on the case.
