Drinking and flying: a structural model.
BACKGROUND
Under a recent revision of the European Joint Aviation Authorities operations regulations it has been prohibited to act as a crew member of an aircraft with a BAC of greater than 0.02%.


METHODS
This survey of UK Civil Aviation Authority pilots suggests that over 50% of respondents may have flown an aircraft with a BAC of greater than this prescribed amount.


RESULTS
Professional pilots were found to be heavier drinkers than private pilots and were also more likely to infringe the 0.02% BAC rule.


CONCLUSIONS
Analysis of the data using path analysis suggests that professional pilots may be more prone to offending as a result of training in a "drinking culture" and as a response to commercial pressures in the industry.
Maxwell
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E
Human Factors Group, College of Aeronautics, Cranfield University, Bedford, United Kingdom.
Harris
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D
D000328:Adult; D000428:Alcohol Drinking / Q000097:blood / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence / Q000523:psychology*; D001359:Aviation / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005260:Female; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D008004:Licensure / Q000145:classification / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence; D008297:Male; D008960:Models, Psychological; D017149:Private Sector / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D012044:Regression Analysis; D012307:Risk Factors; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D006113:United Kingdom / Q000453:epidemiology