Amid coronavirus scare, DGCA issues instructions for checking aviation personnel

Stepping up efforts to curb spreading of coronavirus, aviation watchdog DGCA on Friday said aviation personnel will be examined for cold, fever and other symptoms before they are subject to breath analyser tests.

Flight crew and people working on the airside are among the aviation personnel. Breath Analyser (BA) is applicable for air traffic controllers, flight despatchers, aircraft maintenance personnel and aerodrome operation personnel, among others.

In an order, the regulator said a doctor or a medical personnel would scan a "person for the symptoms of fever, cough, cold, running nose, congested eyes before carrying out a BA test".

Persons having such symptoms would be "exempted from the BA test and removed from duty", it added.

"Such person shall undergo detailed examination and shall return to duty only after having been declared fit," the regulator said in the order.

A record of such cases would also be maintained.

"Such cases will not be treated as missed BA test," it added.

DGCA said the latest instructions would be in force till March 13.

According to a senior DGCA official, the complete process would be supervised by a doctor or paramedic and the same would be recorded on video.

BA test is done to check whether a person has consumed alcohol. In the case of pilots, the test is performed both prior to and after operating a flight.

Recently, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) ordered breath analyser tests for various sections of airside employees, including air traffic controllers (ATCs).