United after pilot arrests: No drinking 12 hours before work, longer than FAA requires

United has tightened its preflight alcohol-use policy for pilots a week after two of its pilots were arrested in Scotland on suspicion of intoxication before a flight to Newark, New Jersey. The airline now requires pilots to refrain from drinking alcohol at least 12 hours before they report to work, up from the eight hours required by FAA regulations and United's previous requirement. The rules on a pilot's blood alcohol content when reporting for duty did not change. Pilots cannot report for work with a BAC of 0.04 percent or higher, also a federal policy. United's new 12 hour no-alcohol policy took effect Aug. 10. Pilots were notified in a bulletin from Henry Canada, manager of flight operations manual. "It is essential that pilots understand that minimal compliance of United's policy does not assure compliance with DOT or individual state standards," the bulletin says. "Countries outside the United States have differing policies which include a blood alcohol content of 0.00% and punishment criteria. It is the sole personal responsibility of the pilot to report for duty as defined by the company, DOT/FAA or the governing country." The airline does not mention the Scotland incident in the memo about the new policy.<br/>