Tweaking rules on alcohol consumption, DGCA asks all aircrew to give declarations before flight

The Indian Commercial Pilots Association and Air Traffic Controllers Guild had moved the High Court citing safety concerns over the number and manner of conducting of breath analyser tests during the pandemic times

Photo for representational purpose only. iStock

Vijay Mohan

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, August 11

The Director General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has tweaked its rules on medical examination of air crew for alcohol consumption after it emerged that conducting large number of breath analyser tests in confined spaces at airports or using alternate methods like blood test was inappropriate during the prevailing Covid-19 pandemic.

Following directives of the Delhi High Court in May 2021, all crew members will be required to give a written undertaking that they have not consumed alcohol in past 12 hours before commencement of a flight or their ground duty, failing which they would be liable for penal action.

“It is again emphasised that all staff of the airlines, including air traffic controllers, cabin crew and the pilots, would be bound to give undertakings and declarations in respect of having not consumed alcohol in terms of the applicable regulations, failing which, they could be re-rostered and strict action would be liable to be taken against them,” the Delhi High Court had said it its order.

“In view of the above order, all crew members shall be bound by such declarations and undertakings. In the event of failure to submit the same, then in the first instance, the crewmember shall be off-rostered from flying duties for a period of one month. In case of subsequent or repeat violations, such crew member’s license or authorisation shall be suspended for a period of three months each time,” draft amendments to rules issued by DGCA this week state. Comments on amendments have been sought from stakeholders by August 25.

The Indian Commercial Pilots Association and Air Traffic Controllers Guild had moved the High Court citing safety concerns over the number and manner of conducting of breath analyser tests during the pandemic times.

In addition, DGCA has also directed that if a crew member is detected positive for alcohol consumption, the medical officer on duty shall provide the prescribed performa for the crew to submit a declaration whether the second test is to be dome on the same equipment or on an alternate equipment. Under rules, if the breath analyzer examination result is positive, a repeat test is to be carried out within 20 minutes.

Alcohol causes hypoxia and reduces an individual’s tolerance with increase in altitude and disturbs the sensor-motor, visual and cortical reaction, resulting in significant deterioration of psychomotor performance and decreases the amount of mental capacity available to deal with many essential tasks involved in the conduct of safe flight.

Should an emergency occur in-flight, the crew member under the influence of alcohol may not be capable of dealing with the problem. The level of blood alcohol compatible with safe flying is ‘Zero’, which is also recommended by the International Civil Aviation Organisation.