Good News For Older Pilots – FAA Updates Eight Hour Bottle To Throttle Rule

Washington, DC – The FAA has issue an amendment to clarify the 1985 regulation 14 CFR § 91.17 which added the confusing concept of a maximum BAC of 0.04 to that famous saying “8 hours bottle to throttle”, originally coined so even drunk pilots could easily remember when not to fly after partying:


(a) No person may act or attempt to act as a crewmember of a civil aircraft
(1) Within 8 hours after the consumption of any alcoholic beverage;
(2) While under the influence of alcohol;
(3) While using any drug that affects the person’s faculties in any way contrary to safety; or
(4) While having an alcohol concentration of 0.04 or greater in a blood or breath specimen. Alcohol concentration means grams of alcohol per deciliter of blood or grams of alcohol per 210 liters of breath

The amendment goes into effect on June 1, 2019 and now grandfathers in all pilots who received their initial pilots licence prior to the 1985 rule change. According to Aviation Medical Services: “Most pilots do not know of the 0.04% FAR, which prohibits flying an aircraft with a blood alcohol concentration (BAC) of 0.04% or higher.”


There is some evidence that in older pilots – who have forgotten more than young pilots will ever know – a moderate intake of alcohol offers some health benefits, although it is also a well-established fact that too much of a good thing, or a good thing at a bad time can be quite dangerous. Alcohol is a major factor in unplanned pregnancies, legal action over paternity, loss of shiny new motor vehicles, and still is a significant causative factor in aviation deaths.

Pilots who earned their wings after 1985 can now purchase this handy keychain beer bottle opener for a gentle reminder of the regs with every refreshing sip!



Mature pilots are eligible for these simplified shot glass memory aids CLICK HERE to purchase online: