DGCA gets strict on drunk pilots

Pilots and crew will now also be subjected to examination on arrival in India after all international flights

Pilots and cabin crew will have to undergo breathalyser test before flying chartered or non-scheduled aircraft. Earlier, the norms allowed tests to be carried out for only 60 per cent of non-scheduled flights.

The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has made the punishment for reporting drunk on duty more stringent and a pilot’s licence will be cancelled for a third offence. Foreign pilots will lose the authorisation or permit to fly in India for the first offence. DGCA issues foreign pilots work permits on the basis of their licence.

The modified rules have been issued this week and come in the wake of recent inspections and checks on non-scheduled and chartered flight operators. The checks revealed rampant flouting of norms by operators.

In March, DGCA had suspended licences of 10 pilots and six cabin crew of GMR group for not undergoing breathalyser tests. It had also said tests were not carried out regularly. The Delhi High Court stayed the DGCA’s suspension order.

“For operators other than the scheduled operators, each flight and cabin crew of all flights originating from India shall be subjected to pre-flight breathalyser examination. However, where infrastructure does not exist, the flight and cabin crew shall undergo post-flight breathalyser  examination,” say new guidelines.

Already pilots and crew of domestic airlines have to undergo pre-flight checks before all the flights. Now, they will also be subjected to examination on arrival in India after all international flights. Currently, checks are conducted once a fortnight for international flights. Under the modified rules, even engineers and technicians will have to undergo checks before taxiing the aircraft within the airport premises.

The regulator has been facing criticism from aviation experts who believe it has been lenient on the issue.

“We have made the rules stringent and removed certain lacunae,” said a DGCA official. Pilots and crew testing positive for alcohol will be suspended for three months for first offence. In case of repeat violation the suspension will be for three years. Pilots caught for the third time will lose the licence permanently.