Pilots may get fired for turning up drunk to duty thrice

New Delhi: Pilots, until now grounded by airlines for three months each time pre-flight breath tests caught them drunk, will now face stricter action. The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) is removing legal anomalies that prevent it from acting against those caught in pre-flight tests as the current rules stipulate action only after an offence is committed — meaning a 'high' pilot reaching the cockpit or having flown in violation of rules and is caught on landing.
Hence, action in such cases is taken by airlines and examples of habitual offenders getting fired are few and far between. But things are likely to change drastically shortly. DGCA chief Nasim Zaidi is learnt to have adopted a policy of zero tolerance on this issue. The new rules being worked out will ensure that DGCA will be empowered to take action even if a pilot reaches an airport high to operate a flight and is caught before actually flying the aircraft.
Spelling out the planned action, highly placed sources said a pilot who gets caught high for a second time could be sent for compulsory rehabilitation as a habitual offender. And being caught thrice could mean getting fired.
24/08/10 Saurabh Sinha/Times of India

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Categories: Indian Aviation- In General Aug 2010, Safety Aug 2010