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FROM THE EDITOR
Got a nice email from Mike B. in Hawaii telling of all
the meetings that pilots can go to when they are on a layover on Kauai.
He has listed a website for all the meetings. Click
here to go to the
Hawaii page. --ed
**********************
FAA Issues New DUI -- DWI
Policy
According the Winter
Edition of The Federal Air Surgeon's Medical Bulletin, the FAA has a
new policy regarding its treatment of an airman who receives his or her
first DUI (driving under the influence) or DWI (driving while
intoxicated). Up until now, an airman's first DUI/DWI offense was a "gimme".
Although the aviation medical examiner ("AME") was supposed to obtain
court documents relating to the offense and question the airman about
his or her alcohol or drug use to determine if the airman has a
substance abuse problem, the FAA did not require any further information
or explanation from the airman and the DUI/DWI did not have any adverse
impact on the airman's ability to obtain a medical certificate. However,
that has changed.
Under the new policy, when an airman reports a DUI/DWI on his or her
medical application, the airman will still have to provide the AME with
copies of the court documents relating to the offense and the AME will
question the airman about his or her alcohol or drug use to determine if
the airman has a substance abuse problem. However, if the airman has a
blood alcohol level greater than 0.15 or refused to let the police take
a sample, the AME may not issue the medical certificate and will have to
defer the medical application to Aeromedical Certification in Oklahoma
City. When the Aeromedical folks receive the application, they will
require that the airman obtain a substance abuse evaluation from a
recognized counselor before they will consider issuing the airman a
medical certificate.
At first blush, this new policy may appear to create more incentive for
an airman not to disclose the DUI/DWI on the medical application. After
all, you might wonder, "if I don't disclose the offense, how will the
FAA know?" Well, when an airman signs the medical application, he or she
gives the FAA permission to search the National Driver Registry. Each
week, the FAA Security Division sends airmen-identifying features to the
registry and, if they receive a "hit," the FAA checks the airman’s
medical examination records to see if the airman reported the DUI/DWI as
required. And keep in mind, the consequences for failing to disclose
remain severe: suspension of airmen and medical certificates for failing
to report within 60 days under FAR
61.15(e) and revocation of all airmen certificates for failure to
disclose on the medical application.
Unfortunately, this policy change, coupled with the recent change to FAA
Form 8500-8 which now requires disclosure of "arrests" in addition to
the previously required "convictions and administrative actions," will
certainly create new problems for an airman with a first time DUI/DWI.
***********************************************************
CONVENTION UPDATE
WE CAN NOW CONFIRM THAT
AT THE 75TH INTERNATIONAL AA CONVENTION IN SAN ANTONIO ON JULY
1-2-3-4, 2009 (IMMEDIATELY FOLLOWING OUR
OWN
C0NVENTION JUNE 29-JULY 1) THAT BIRDS OF A FEATHER WILL HAVE THEIR OWN
'HOSPITALITY ROOM' IN THE MILAM ROOM AT THE MARRIOTT RIVERWALK
HOTEL DOWNTOWN. WE WILL BE ABLE TO REACH
OUT AND SHARE OUR MESSAGE WITH ANY AVIATOR OR PROFESSIONAL AIRMAN WHO
HAPPENS TO VISIT OUR ROOM. IN THE PAST WE HAD TO SHARE OUR ROOM
WITH SEVERAL OTHER ORGANIZATIONS. WE WILL MAN THE ROOM WITH
VARIOUS BIRDS THROUGHOUT THE CONVENTION PERIOD. OUR HOSPITALITY
ROOM WILL HAVE A MENTION IN THE AA CONVENTION PROGRAM AS TO LOCATION.
ALSO, BIRDS OF A
FEATHER WILL AGAIN HAVE THEIR OWN SPECIAL MEETING HALL THAT SHOULD
ACCOMMODATE APPROXIMATELY 600 PEOPLE FOR OUR ONE TIME 'FORUM' WHICH
WILL CONSIST OF A MODERATOR AND THREE TO FOUR BIRDS SHARING THEIR
EXPERIENCE, STRENGTH AND HOPE. THIS EVENT IS TENTATIVELY SET TO
OCCUR ON SATURDAY, JULY 3 OF THE INTERNATIONAL AA EVENT,
AND WILL BE MENTIONED IN THE AA CONVENTION LITERATURE AND PROGRAM.
******************
The
Denver Nest has make it more
interesting to attend Birds of a Feather in Denver by changing their
meeting place as they now meet in two different locations every month.
The First Monday of the month finds them at the AA Club called
Orchard Club South which is located in South Denver at the northwest
Corner of Orchard Rd. and I-25. The meeting starts at 1600.
On the Third Monday of the month they have returned to La
Mariposa Restaurant, an excellent Mexican restaurant, located across
Quebec Street from the United Airlines Training Center near the old
Stapleton Airport. Come for dinner at 1730 and stay for the
meeting. Thanks for supporting the Denver nest and their new
meeting place changes.
******************
From Beth, our Big Bird, on the new LAX
nest:
They have 3 regular members and a couple of
others who seem to come in and go out. The meeting is held in one
member's home...certainly the nicest venue for an AA meeting I have ever
attended...it is every Wednesday and they asked me to encourage others
to visit them. Even though the three regulars know each other's story
well, there is that special connection that pilots in the program have,
where aviation plays such a big part of their drinking and recovery
story and it is just easier to be honest in a meeting full of pilots.
Go to
CURRENT
NOTICES
page
for updates and new information

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
Posted 2/13/10
From Corey in Houston
Just an
update on the IAH nest. We celebrated our 2 year anniversary last week
with a “Happy Birds-day!” Cake and goodies! I gave a brief timeline of
where I was and how the nest came about to the group. A topic of “It
works if you work it and how far we’ve come and why” tended to prevail
through the discussion. We will be handing over the chairperson spot
for the next yearly service. He should be contacting you soon.
Posted 1/9/10
Posted 9/4/09
Hi-
Wanted to share how my day started.
I was in a big hurry on my way to work when I had to stop at a
crosswalk. Pissed that I had to wait for a pedestrian to cross, I was
very much in my head about my hi-bottom problems. Looking at the person
in the crosswalk nudged me into my judgmental mode that allows me to
feel better about myself in these situations. You see this guy was
disheveled and obviously "less than". It was then that I noticed in the
pile of books in his hand were the Big Book and the 12 & 12.
I stopped him to let him know that I loved his choice of reading
material. He was a little startled, but when I told him I was one too,
he smiled brightly and said he was 21 days sober and was the best he has
been in 30 years. He thanked me for talking to him. I would like to
think that our brief talk helped him, but it was what it did for me that
proves how this thing of ours works. I am in the moment and in so much
gratitude right now.
I'm so glad that I had to wait at that crosswalk.
Fred
Posted 5-21-09
From one of the DFW Speakers
I wanted to thank you and
all the participants,
I really enjoyed this past weekend. I loved
the presentation on Friday as both
Fr. Mark and Dave talked about the
transition into recovery.
I thought Scott R on Saturday was amazing.
What a testament
of this program. I am in awe of how he
walked through all of that. He deserves the riches of sobriety, he
certainly paid his dues. Most of
all, I loved learning more about BOAF.
What a wonderful support/organization. When I was in direct care, I
spoke of this program, now I feel I
understand it more clearly. I will pass my experience onto the
staff, especially of those working with the
airline members.
Thanks again,
George Plesniak, MS, ACRPS,
CAC
Director of Utilization
Review
Father Martin's ASHLEY -
www.fathermartinsashley.org
410-273-2234 - 800-799-4673
x234
gplesniak@fmashley.com
Posted 5-18-09
A message from one of our DFW Convention Speakers:
Just wanted to take a second to
thank you all for your hospitality, kindness and fellowship this
past weekend. I have worked in the field of Addiction Treatment for
over 20 years , 14 of those with Fathers Martin’s Ashley , and have
actually had the honor of working directly with some of the Birds
and their families. This past weekend was and will remain one of the
highlights of my years of work in the field. The closeness and
unity that I was allowed to be part of was something that few will
get to experience and be a part of. I hope that our time with you on
Friday and Saturday was worthwhile and productive, and if the
opportunity to ever work with you all again comes up I would clearly
welcome that chance. Thanks again for what I consider the
opportunity of a lifetime
Keeping Carrying Your Message
Dave Matukaitis
Ravendave56@aol.com
Posted 3/30/09
Dear BOAF,
I was so gratified to read the kudos to my dear
friend Cindy Rucker on your site. Cindy loved
flying with every particle of her body and worked
tirelessly to become a pilot. She was a fabulous
graphic artist (just ask the Los Angeles Times) and
a good musician/ songwriter as well.
The day in 1977 when she was accepted as a pilot for
Western Airlines was a banner day for her and for
women everywhere. All those who knew her thought
her fearless and were stunned to discover she was an
alcoholic--she covered it well. But like everything
else she did, Cindy tackled it head on with the
help of BOAF, the support of friends and family,
AA, Buzz A., and the Betty Ford Center. She worked
hard for more understanding from the airlines and
government and educated everyone possible as to the
plight of airline personnel with substance abuse.
I miss her still...thank you for keeping her memory
alive.
Ronny Schiff
Posted 3-22-09
Here are a couple of letters from folks in our
organization about the recent passing of Richey G. :
You had better enlarge
the website because there is NO way one can write a
small article on Richey Grude. She had tooooooooooooo
many great attributes and meant so much to tooooo many
of us for a small article. She was one swell lady
and well loved by all of us. You could only look at
Lee's eyes and see the love he had for her and visa
versa. One great couple to be remembered by many.
Ann B.
This seems so appropriate for our dear Richey:
There Is No Death
I am standing on the seashore. A ship at my side spreads her white
sails to the morning breeze and starts for the blue ocean. She is an
object of beauty and strength, and I stand and watch her until at
length, she is a speck of white cloud just where the sea and the sky
come to mingle with each other.
Then someone at my side says “There! She’s gone!”
Gone where? Gone
from my sight, that’s all. She is just as large in mast and hull and
spar as she was when she left my side, and she is just as able to
bear her load of living weight to her destined harbor.
Her diminished size is in me, not in her. And just at the moment when
someone at my side says “There! She’s gone!”; there are other eyes
watching her coming and other voices ready to take up the glad shout
“There she comes!”
And that is dying.
Mike B.
FOR A SPECIAL TRIBUTE TO RICHEY G.
CLICK
HERE
Posted 2-10-09
Dear Editor,
What a difference a year makes!
A year ago, when flying into Sydney, Australia, my typical experience
would have been like this: Land about 6 pm, get to the hotel around 7,
exhausted and many, many time zones out of sync. Meet in the lobby at
7:30 and go out with my crew for dinner and beers. Ditch my crew around
midnight, when they would go back to the hotel, or I would go off in
search of "more excitement" (after all, I'm half-way around the world,
so who will ever know what I do?) Drink beer all night long. Stumble
back to the hotel about daylight. Toss and turn all day. Meet in the
lobby at 5 pm for pick up, feeling like crap and praying I don't get a
breathalyzer.
Fast forward a year, one stint in a treatment center, HIMS, a good
sponsor, probably several hundred meetings, countless hours of step
work, prayer and reading the Big Book.
Get to Sydney about 6 pm. Go out and get a quick bite to eat. Sleep a
good, long, restful sleep. Wake up the next morning and go to a 7 am AA
meeting a short walk from the hotel. Have breakfast. Walk around town,
enjoying the exotic sights and sounds. See a woman obviously distrought
sitting on a curb down an alley talking on her cell phone. Feel
compassion for her. Notice there is a flower vendor at the corner. Buy
her flowers and offer them to her. She refuses to accept them,
obviously very disturbed a stranger is trying to give her flowers!
Don't argue. Exit the alley and notice the street sign, "Angel Place,"
so figure she'll be okay. Now walking around town holding a bouquet of
pink flowers. A woman walks right up to me, sticks her face in the
flowers and says, "Are these for me?" I say, "Why, yes, they are!"
Hand them to her and continue my walk.
Stop for a sandwich and am given a HUGE sandwich, only half of which I
can eat. Wonder what I should do with the other half, I don't want to
waste it, but it won't last until I get back to the hotel. Notice a
homeless guy begging at the corner. "Would you like a sandwich?" He
eagerly accepts it.
Go to a noon Big Book meeting and listen.
Walk back to the hotel and a get a good nap before pick up. Meet in the
lobby for pick up, ready to go and wide awake, feeling good for the long
flight coming up.
A friend back home said in the rooms, "Act right. You'll soon think
right, and then after a while you'll feel right." Well, thanks to my
Higher Power guiding me around, I am discovering this is indeed true.
And I can't tell you how grateful I am to the AA program for making my
layovers infinitely better than they used to be. It definitely feels
good to feel right!
Yours in Sobriety,
D. W.
Posted 12-28-08:
I would like to borrow a
Richeyism to describe a recent event.
I recently had the
pleasure of doing a two week cruise from San Diego
through the cannel to Fort Lauderdale.
I went to the "Friends
of Bill" meetings each day and for the first few days
there were only two of us. We just had an informal
meeting and mostly talked about our programs. One day
we were talking about meetings we attend and she said to
me that one of her favorite meetings was one in DC.
that was a bunch of " mostly retired pilots".
It was called Birds of a Feather.
After I got up off the
floor, I said that I new some of those people and
dropped a few names on her.(Probably a rule violation).
We had a good laugh about that and became instant
friends.
We were later joined by
more people and had a group of about five. Two of those
had recent relapses. One after 17 years and one after
24 years. I could have told their stories before they
did. Stopped going to meetings, stopped working the
program, etc. Anyway it was a real lesson to listen to
them. The other fellow that joined us was having a
little more trouble figuring things out. He was a
retired Naval Officer and had been through the Navy
Program. He was only drinking " no alcohol" beer. At
least that was what he said. I suggested to him, that
it wasn't really "NO" alcohol, and it was a very
dangerous path. He eventually stopped coming.
The best part is that I
learned a lot from every one of these people and it made
my sobriety even better.
Posted 12-27-08:
Dear Editor,
So here I am in Budapest, Hungary, newly sober and in need of quieting
down the committee in my head. OK, check the web. Ahhh, English AA
meetings three times a week on nearby Kertesz Street! It gets dark
early this time of year in Budapest, so by 6 pm, as I am walking to the
meeting, it feels like it is the middle of the night. Walk four streets
up, turn left, find the building number, and stand there looking at a
building with broken windows, trash all over the place and the universal
graffiti painted everywhere. Obviously, a building not yet cleaned up
from the 1956 revolution....
Oh, well, walk inside and the lobby smells like urine but, lo and
behold, a sheet of paper reading "AA - One Flight Up, On The Left" taped
to the wall. Up I go and sure enough, in a small room obviously used as
a sort of kindergarten during the day, there are three or four people
making coffee, passing out Big Books, and setting up AA posters and
pamphlet racks. Everyone is friendly, and I am welcomed by an older
Hungarian gentleman who can barely speak English. Soon there are six of
us, the Hungarian gentleman who I later discover always reads the "How
It Works" so that=2 0he can practice his English, a Hungarian lady
wrapped in several layers of warm clothes, a disheveled and very
harrassed looking Englishman, and two other Americans like me, here for
work or pleasure.
The meeting opens with the Hungarian lady chairing. One of us reads the
Preamble, the elderly Hungarian gentleman reads "How It Works," and we
are all asked if anyone needs a chip. Since I am the newcomer here, I
am given a copy of "As Bill Sees It" and asked to pick a reading for
tonight's topic. I choose #176, "Domination and Demand." I read it and
speak for about ten minutes about how I relate to it. We go around the
room sharing our experience, strength and hope. We end the meeting with
the Seventh Tradition, someone reads the Twelve Traditions and, standing
in a circle holding hands, we pray the Serenity Prayer and end with the
familiar, "It works if you work it so work it your worth it!"
I am at home, here in this small AA meeting in a foreign country where
the language and people are as exotic to me as anywhere I have ever
been. My new friends all have stories I know from having lived them.
The details are different, but the thoughts and feelings are the same,
and the committee inside my head is once again quiet.
After the meeting we all shake hands and wish each other well. I leave,
and, as I go down the stairs of this building that looks like it is next
in line for the demolition crew, I remember t hat the most dangerous
neighborhood for me is not here on this dark street, but the one I carry
around with me between my ears, and I feel very blessed and grateful to
be part of the AA fellowship.
Yours In Sobriety,
Dan W.
Miami
Posted 11-26-08:
Hi, my name is Tom C and I cannot
believe that I have not found BOAF until today.
If I would have in my AA journey then I may still be flying.
Too bad for me but timing is everything.
Anyway, where to go from here. I sent a qualification e-mail to the POC
and would like to share my story and attend a convention and meet other
pilots with AA.
Thanks,
Tom C
Monument, CO
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*******************

ARTICLES & STORIES OF INTEREST
"Once during a period of weekend
piloting, I flew a light plane into the clouds over some hilly
terrain and got lost. The plane was without blind-flight
instruments and I was without training in blind flying, and
therefore in moment-to-moment peril of a fatal tailspin. I
tried to climb out of the cloudbank but couldn't make it; it was
too high. To try to get under it might wind me up in a pile of
burning junk on a hillside, or in a power line. Whether I went
up, or down, or stayed where I was, my life was in great
danger. I was a clammy, sweaty scared.
"Though not at that time
religiously inclined, I prayed. Then I put the nose toward the
ground and held it on a steep glide, peering ahead into the
murk. Presently I saw a farmhouse immediately ahead. I held a
wing on it, circling, and saw a small pasture where a crash
landing could be made. Gliding in for the landing, scarcely ten
feet off the ground, I could see under the cloud structure. The
farmhouse was high on a hillside; below was clear air over a
long valley. I flew on. In a quarter of an hour I was safely
landed at my destination airport, limp with gratitude and
wonder. A power greater than myself had, in response to my
prayer, restored me to safety! This happened seven years before
I came into AA.
"I did not hang onto this
spiritual insight. After a day or two of awed reflection I
forgot it, resumed my usual ways and usual drinking, which was
progressing toward a climax. Seven years later, again fogged
in, with all courses of action blocked in alcoholic impasse, I
met some people who had "come to believe that a Power greater
than ourselves could restore us to sanity." Remembering then my
deliverance from the cloud-shrouded hills, it was easier than it
might otherwise have been to believe as they did."
- The AA Grapevine, 1954
Is God Your "Co" Pilot?
Like many pilots, I first got
interested in flying airplanes by reading books as a youngster and
watching flying movies late into the night when in grade school and high
school. One movie that really stood out for me was God is my
Copilot. I really enjoyed that one and I have since then
read the book by Colonel Robert L. Scott at least three times.
As my drinking started and my alcoholism progressed I would never pass
up the opportunity to watch these old movies when they would come on
late night television. Many times I sat there and fantasized that
I was General Frank Savage taking over and whipping to shape a squadron
of B-17 pilots like Gregory Peck did in 12 O'Clock High.
I truly was suffering from delusions of grandeur, a true character
defect if there ever is one. As my recovery progressed I realized
that if I was ever to be truly sober I would have to "deflate my ego" to
the extent that I could finally address these defects and get my life
more on a realistic, even keel. It took several years and I
continue to confront an ego that will get the better of me if I allow
it.
One way I have found that helps me is
allow my higher power to be more active in my life. And so now
here comes my point: In the movies I am always in control of
everything. There is only room for God to be my co-pilot. In
recovery, I have to make more room in my life for him than that.
So that is why I say to pilots who are new or years into the program that:
"if God is your copilot, it's time to switch seats".
Scott H.
Dec 2008
A MECHANICAL APPROACH
TO THE 12 STEPS
Step
1:
I had an "Old Clunker" of an airplane parked at the
airport. I had just about given up on it but decided to make a
wholehearted attempt to restore it.
Step 2:
I couldn't fix it, but I came to believe someone could.
Step 3:
I turned the plane over to an A & P mechanic.
Step 4:
I took an inventory of all that was wrong with the "Old
Clunker."
Step 5:
I shared the inventory with the mechanic.
Step 6:
I helped take off the old parts.
Step
7: I let the mechanic handle the rest.
Step 8:
We made a list of all the parts that were needed and got
together and went over them.
Step 9:
I admitted I hadn't checked the oil and fluids properly,
or fixed the other things that were going wrong. It was my
responsibility to take care of the plane, and I had not. I wanted to
help, but being unfamiliar with the process, I allowed the mechanic to
fix things. The airplane turned out beautifully!
Step 10:
I check the oil, fluids, tires etc. more regularly, and
when I don't the engine doesn't hum.
Step 11:
I
call on the mechanic whenever there is trouble, asking him to fix the
plane.
Step 12:
That mechanic and I have become such close friends that
we decided to take a trip across the country, and we stopped to help all
that needed it along the way.
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