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| The 'Makgeolli Effect' |
The move comes as pilots have been caught drinking alcohol in cockpits or engaging in unprofessional conduct such as failing to follow flight manuals or abiding by safety rules. Last year three pilots were prevented from boarding their aircraft when they were found to be more drunk that the ground staff, while another pilot under the influence of alcohol was suspended after apparently struggling to land in heavy fog at Incheon Airport which later transpired to be from his cigarettes.
Authorities have previously attempted to prevent pilots drinking on board aircraft by searching their hand luggage before boarding, and instructing stewardesses – even the ones they were sleeping with – not to serve alcoholic drinks to them during flights. The plan failed partly because of what the Ministry of Transport characterized these "air-headed women's inability to follow instructions", although they also reluctantly acknowledged that security searches at Korean airports had transpired to be "not very good".
The Ministry say that nine safety inspectors are already engaged in randomly boarding both cargo and commercial aircraft to observe how pilots operate. However, pilots have shown a lukewarm response to the government's latest initiative, partly because they haven't been invited and don't bring anything to the party with them. "Nobody likes gatecrashers, unless it's an accident." said 65 year-old Captain Kim. Other pilots say that the presence of inspectors in the cockpit might distract them because they weren't comfortable flying with people around them, and that many misunderstand the kind of high-altitude spatial disorientation, known as 'The Makgeolli Effect', which sometimes Korean pilots experience.
Some passengers have also criticized the move. Dokdo City resident 38 year-old Kim said that every year he books his annual holiday to Korea's second-class city, Busan "but really, you could end up anywhere". Kim said he would be sad to see the end of his mystery holidays although he admits that since he's started taking flights with government inspectors on, he's been surprised at how little turbulence there's been.
The Ministry says it has already started compiling a report of its findings, which will be made available to the public much, much later.
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