Just when it appeared as though the glare of public scrutiny had shifted away from air traffic controllers, the FAA now says it is investigating “the possibility” of a tipsy controller who failed an alcohol test six hours into his eight-hour shift at the Denver Air Route Traffic Control Center on July 5.
The FAA has not disclosed the controller’s specific blood-alcohol level or name, confirming only that he failed a random drug and alcohol test and that he is not working his controller shifts. ABC News quoted a family member as saying the controller was offered the choice of resigning or entering a rehabilitation program, and that he chose rehab. The legal blood-alcohol level for controllers is .02 percent.
