ATCs Might Have to Take Alcohol-Detection Test

New Delhi: Air traffic controllers reporting for duty to guide planes - and their passengers - fly in and out of Indian airports safely may soon have to undergo breath-analyser tests to make sure they are perfectly sober. These tests would be similar to alcohol-detection tests that pilots and cabin crew have to undergo and are carried out extensively during festive seasons.
The issue was raised at a recent committee of public undertaking meeting here when an MP, Dinesh Trivedi, quizzed Airports Authority of India chairman K Ramalingam if ATCs were being checked for alcohol while reporting for duty.
He also asked if drivers working on airfield side were subjected to these checks.
"Currently there are no such checks. The aim is to ensure passengers safety and keeping this in mind, there's the breath-analyser test rule for pilots. The same logic also applies to ATCs, aircraft maintenance engineers and others working on airside. Random checks must be started to instil the fear of God in officials handling sensitive positions at airports," Trivedi told TOI.When contacted, DGCA chief Kanu Gohain confirmed the issue raised by Trivedi was being considered.
11/01/08 The Times of India/AMTOnline.com, US

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Categories: Airports Jan 2008, Safety Jan 2008