Chewing gum may fail pilots in breathalyzer test

Chennai: Alco-Sensor IV, equipment that has replaced old breathalyzer used to test alcohol content, is so sensitive that it picks up wrong cues and flashes positive results even when pilots are not drunk.
And a series of misreadings by the equipment at airports across the country has made pilots paranoid. Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has recently made pre-flight tests using Alco-Sensor IV compulsory. Pilots will be grounded for three months if they test positive for the first time. The second time, they will lose licence for five years. DGCA rules do not allow taking blood samples or a third breathalyzer test on a pilot who had tested positive twice.
Strict punishments and hypersensitive equipment have made life difficult for pilots. "We now don't use chewing gum, cough syrup, mouth freshener toffees or sprays an hour before reporting for work. The equipment often detects these as alcohol and shows a positive result. This will create trouble for the airline and the pilots," said an Air India pilot. As per rules a pilot should not operate a flight less than 12 hours after consuming alcohol.
07/06/12 V Ayyappan/Times of India

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Categories: Indian Aviation- In General Jun 2012