Breath test for all pilots

Chennai: Reporting for duty after consuming alcohol is going to be extremely risky for pilots hereafter, as airlines have started doing pre-flight breath tests on pilots of all departing flights as part of Directorate-General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) instructions to make such tests compulsory.
Earlier, such tests were conducted randomly. Now, with the procedure being made mandatory, airlines have to make an additional investment on the automatic Alco Sensor machines , as per DGCA specification.
Sources said Air India and Jet Airways have started testing all their pilots from the first week of January. As the tubes used to test pilots and cabin crew are disposable, airlines have started bulk-ordering the tubes.
Some airlines have devised ways to cut costs. Sources said Jet Airways has told their cabin crew to recycle the tubes. "Each cabin crew is given a tube for the test which they will reuse. So, we do not have to buy more components for the breath test," said an airline official.
Most airlines have already invested in the machines each of which costs approximately Rs 1.5 lakh. Airlines have installed one Alco Sensor machine at all major airports.
15/01/11 Times of India

To Read the News in full at Source, Click the Headline

Categories: Indian Aviation- In General Jan 2011