FAA Airline Transport Pilot (ATM)Human Factors and CRMEasy
A first officer attends a wedding reception and stops drinking alcohol at 11:00 p.m. She is scheduled to report for duty at 6:00 a.m. the next morning, feeling clear-headed and well-rested. Under 14 CFR 91.17, is she legal to serve as a required crewmember?
- AYes, as long as her blood alcohol concentration is below 0.04 at report time
- BNo, because 14 CFR 91.17 prohibits any alcohol consumption within 24 hours of duty
- CNo, because only 7 hours have elapsed since her last drink, less than the required 8 hours
- DYes, because she stopped drinking well before report time and feels fine
Show answer & explanationAnswer & explanation
Correct answer: C. No, because only 7 hours have elapsed since her last drink, less than the required 8 hours
14 CFR 91.17 prohibits acting as a crewmember within 8 hours of consuming alcohol ('bottle-to-throttle'). From 11:00 p.m. to 6:00 a.m. is only 7 hours, so she would be in violation regardless of how she feels or her BAC.
Why the other options are wrong
- A. BAC below 0.04 is a separate requirement but does not override the 8-hour minimum.
- B. The regulation specifies 8 hours, not 24 hours, between drinking and duty.
- D. Feeling fine is irrelevant; the regulation sets a fixed 8-hour minimum interval.
14 CFR 91.17 Alcohol Rule
Federal regulation prohibiting crewmembers from acting in that capacity within 8 hours of alcohol consumption, while under the influence, or with a BAC of 0.04 or greater.
- 8-hour minimum bottle-to-throttle interval
- BAC limit of 0.04
- Applies even if the pilot feels unimpaired
- Company policies may impose longer intervals than the FAA minimum
Memory trick: '8 hours, .04, no impairment' — the three-part alcohol rule