AN ACR LTT CAPT WAS REMOVED FROM HIS TRIP FOR ALLEGED ALCOHOL USE.

Narrative

CAPT WAS BELIEVED TO HAVE ALCOHOL ON HIS BREATH BEFORE LEAVING MINNEAPOLIS TO RHINELANDER; WI. HE WAS NOT REMOVED FROM DUTY UNTIL AFTER ARRIVING IN RHI AND PREFLTING FOR NEXT FLT. I DID NOT NOTICE ANYTHING ABNORMAL ABOUT THE CAPT EXCEPT THAT HE TOLD ME THAT HE WAS TAKING COUGH DROPS AND I BELIEVE THAT TO BE WHAT WAS SMELLED ON HIS BREATH BY ME AND RAMP PERSONNEL WHO ARE THE PEOPLE WHO ACCUSED HIM. IN ORDER TO PREVENT RECURRENCE; I BELIEVE BETTER PROCS SHOULD BE IN PLACE AT AIRLINES TO IMMEDIATELY REMOVE A PLT FROM DUTY BEFORE HE TAKES OFF TO START A TRIP! CALLBACK CONVERSATION WITH RPTR REVEALED THE FOLLOWING INFO: THE RPTR FLIES FOR A MIDWESTERN COMMUTER ACR WHOSE PLTS ARE REPRESENTED BY A MAJOR PLT'S UNION. THE RPTR HAS HEARD VERY LITTLE REGARDING THE DISPOSITION OF THIS INCIDENT. THE RPTR WAS INTERVIEWED BY THE FAA EARLY IN JULY. THE FAA REPRESENTATIVE WAS NOT AT ALL ACCUSATORY OF THE RPTR. THERE WAS A SPLIT SAMPLE BLOOD TEST TAKEN AFTER THE PLT WAS REMOVED FROM THE TRIP. ONE SAMPLE SHOWED 0.0; THE OTHER 0.1. THE TEST WAS TAKEN 6 HRS AFTER THE PLT WAS FIRST ACCUSED OF ALCOHOL USE. THE PLT HAS BEEN FIRED AND APPARENTLY HIS UNION IS TRYING TO GET HIS JOB BACK. THE RAMP PERSON THAT ACCUSED THE PLT HAS SINE BEEN PROMOTED.