DGCA asks aviation operators to conduct random dope test of their staff from January 31

Mukesh Ranjan
Tribune News Service
New Delhi, September 27

The civil aviation regulator DGCA on Monday issued a final order asking all the scheduled commercial aircraft operators to carry out random drug testing on flight crew members and air traffic controllers with a view to curb possible use of psychoactive substances, including amphetamine, methamphetamine, cannabis, opioids and others by aviation personnel.

The Director General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) in its order, a copy of which is with The Tribune, said, that the rules “will be effective from January 31, 2022 and it will be applicable to aircraft operators engaged in commercial operations, maintenance and repair organisations, flying training organisations and air navigation service providers”.

In the order, the DGCA said under the scheme the operators have to ensure that at least 10 per cent of the employees are covered in a year while testing for drug abuse.

While the aviation regulator already examines aviation personnel by breath analysers to check alcohol content in their bodies before commencing flight duties, a senior official said that the latest move is to ensure the safety of passengers and aircraft.

“The worldwide spread of use of psychoactive substances, their general availability and the ever-increasing number of addicted users is a serious concern to aviation safety. Their use causes behavioural, cognitive and physiological changes. This manifests in dependence, major health related issues and negative effect on performance,” said the DGCA in the civil aviation requirement (CAR) order dated September 27, 2021.

“The organisations must ensure that all employees have an equal chance of being tested each time the selection is made. Specific individuals or groups must not be targeted including certain locations,” said a senior official.

“All the positive cases needed to be reported to the DGCA within 24 hours. If the screening test is non-negative, the employee will be immediately removed from the safety sensitive duty till a confirmatory report is received,” the DGCA said.

“In case of a positive confirmatory test for the first time, the concerned employee will be referred to the de-addiction centre. In case a person, who has returned to safety sensitive duties after having been tested negative and is again found positive in the confirmatory test, license of such person will be suspended for a period of three years and for third positive occasion, the license will be cancelled,” the regulator said.