Source : INDIA TODAY NEWS
The government is considering annual dope tests for all airline pilots, up from the current requirement of testing 10 per cent of pilots, sources said on Tuesday amid heightened scrutiny over the turbulence-hit Air India Phuket-Delhi flight on August 4.
The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) is consulting stakeholders on the proposal and examining its feasibility, including the potential operational impact of testing every pilot once a year, according to sources.
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They said the aviation watchdog is currently assessing the impact of 100 per cent testing, while consultations with stakeholders are underway.
Civil Aviation Minister Ram Mohan Naidu said the existing rule requires dope testing of 10 per cent of airline pilots. He said the government wants to examine the possibility of testing all pilots at random times, while taking into account safety and operational considerations.
“Right now, the rule says 10 per cent for pilots on airlines. We want every pilot to go through it at a random time,” Naidu said, adding that the safety aspect and operational impact would have to be considered.
The proposal came days after the pilot-in-command of the turbulence-hit AI2379 tested positive for marijuana in a confirmatory laboratory test.
Both pilots underwent mandatory psychoactive-substance screening after the incident. The commander’s initial test required further confirmation, following which his sample was sent to a designated laboratory. The confirmatory test returned positive for marijuana, sources said.
Both pilots have been taken off the flying roster pending the investigation.
The Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB), however, has cautioned against drawing conclusions from any isolated piece of information while its probe is underway. It said technical, operational, medical and human-factor evidence would be examined in its entirety.
ABOUT THE PHUKET FLIGHT INCIDENT
AI2379 was flying from Phuket to Delhi on August 4 when it experienced a sudden altitude variation of around 300 feet during cruise. The flight, an Airbus A320 make, was carrying 137 passengers, including three infants and eight crew members. It later stabilised and landed safely in Delhi.
According to the government, 20 passengers and four cabin crew members were injured in the incident.
The incident brought renewed focus on pilot fitness and the effectiveness of existing psychoactive-substance testing rules, even as the AAIB continues to investigate the circumstances surrounding the flight’s sudden altitude loss.
Separately, Air India has decided to conduct mandatory screening of all its pilots for substances and medications prohibited under prevailing regulations following the Phuket flight fiasco, according to an internal communication seen by Reuters.
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SOURCE :- TIMES OF INDIA
