The consultant in aviation medicine has recommended that DGCA make mandatory drug tests of cabin crew before flying, appoint paramedical staff for airline cabin crew, and outsource them.
Dr Surendar Sodhi, who worked as chief medical staff for Etihad Airways and DGCA and the Indian Air Force and now resides in Powai, sent these recommendations to DGCA.
The recommendations state that in other countries, airlines conduct random alcohol checks on cabin crew while in India, it is not necessary to conduct alcohol tests every time before flying.
Overseas, breath tests are conducted with special meters, printouts are necessary and there is a provision of two tests with a gap of 20 minutes while in India, cabin crew is put through only one test and blood test which is very time consuming.
Dr Sodhi has also stated that in India, aviation medical staff is employed by the airline and chances are they might be working under pressure from senior officials of the airline and allow a cabin crew under the influence of alcohol. Hence, paramedical staff must be outsourced.
Unlike in America, in India, there is no provision to check consumption of drugs by cabin crew.
13/12/15 Ashita Dadheech/The Asian Age
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Dr Surendar Sodhi, who worked as chief medical staff for Etihad Airways and DGCA and the Indian Air Force and now resides in Powai, sent these recommendations to DGCA.
The recommendations state that in other countries, airlines conduct random alcohol checks on cabin crew while in India, it is not necessary to conduct alcohol tests every time before flying.
Overseas, breath tests are conducted with special meters, printouts are necessary and there is a provision of two tests with a gap of 20 minutes while in India, cabin crew is put through only one test and blood test which is very time consuming.
Dr Sodhi has also stated that in India, aviation medical staff is employed by the airline and chances are they might be working under pressure from senior officials of the airline and allow a cabin crew under the influence of alcohol. Hence, paramedical staff must be outsourced.
Unlike in America, in India, there is no provision to check consumption of drugs by cabin crew.
13/12/15 Ashita Dadheech/The Asian Age
