For safer skies, will drunk pilots be grounded for life?

New Delhi: Pilots may no longer get away almost scot free with mild punishments after turning up to operate flights in an inebriated condition.
The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has received a number of representations from several quarters demanding that India must, like the US, cancel the licence of a pilot who reports to work high. Among the people who called for cancelling drunk pilot licences are industrialist and aviation enthusiast Vijaypat Singhania at recent ATC Guild event.
"Our policy is of zero tolerance on this issue and we are considering all tough steps. The existing laws are being made stricter and we are moving towards a 100% pre-flight breathanalyser test for pilots," DGCA chief Nasim Zaidi said. The regulator is soon coming out with a fresh set of rules under which the crew of a VVIP flight will be subjected to breath tests. The percentage of crew of commercial flights made to undergo this test will be progressively increased.
"The onus will be on airlines to conduct these tests. But since having 100% tests requires substantial infrastructure, we will gradually proceed to that," said a senior official. The noose has begun tightening for drunk pilots as the DGCA is keen that stiff penalties act as a big deterrent against crew drinking 12 hours before their flights.
17/11/09 Saurabh Sinha/Times of India

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Categories: Indian Aviation- In General Nov 2009, Safety Nov 2009