Aviation Regulator Proposes Mandatory Drug Tests For Pilots, Crew

Companies in the aviation sector should encourage their employees to self-declare any use of psychoactive substances, the draft rules mentioned.

Aviation workers, including pilots, flight crew members, air traffic controllers and aircraft maintenance engineers will be tested for psychoactive substances such as cannabis, cocaine and ecstasy by their employers, the draft rules issued by aviation regulator DGCA read. "The worldwide spread of the use of psychoactive substances, their general availability and the ever-increasing number of addicted users is a serious concern to aviation safety," the draft rules mentioned. Airlines and air navigation service providers will have to carry out random drug tests on at least five per cent of the flight crew members and air traffic controllers employed by them every year, stated the draft rules of the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA). The draft rules mentioned that commercial aircraft operators, maintenance and repair organisations, flying training organisations and air navigation service providers will also have to carry out drug tests before employing any person or admitting a trainee pilot.