FAA Airline Transport Pilot (ATM)Regulations (14 CFR 117/121/61)Easy
A first officer had two glasses of wine at dinner the night before an early-morning report time. Under 14 CFR 91.17, what is the minimum interval that must pass between consuming alcohol and acting as a required crewmember?
- A8 hours
- B6 hours
- C12 hours
- D24 hours
Show answer & explanationAnswer & explanation
Correct answer: A. 8 hours
14 CFR 91.17(a)(1) prohibits acting as a crewmember within 8 hours after consuming any alcoholic beverage. This is the well-known 'bottle-to-throttle' rule, separate from the BAC and impairment prohibitions in the same section.
Why the other options are wrong
- B. 6 hours is not the regulatory figure used in 91.17.
- C. 12 hours exceeds the regulatory minimum, though many carriers use longer company policies.
- D. 24 hours is not the FAA minimum, though some operators impose stricter internal policies.
91.17 Alcohol Rule
14 CFR 91.17 prohibits crewmembers from acting as such within 8 hours of consuming alcohol, while under its influence, or with a BAC of 0.04 or greater.
- 8-hour bottle-to-throttle minimum
- 0.04 BAC or greater is disqualifying
- Applies to any drug affecting faculties contrary to safety
Memory trick: Eight hours after the last pour, don't walk through the cockpit door.