Airline staff to face random dope tests
NEW DELHI: For the first time, India has proposed to conduct dope tests randomly on pilots, cabin crew and air traffic controllers (ATCOs). Aspiring pilots may be required to undergo tests for psychoactive substances before getting admission to a flying school.
If an aviation personnel tests positive for the second time it could lead to suspension of licence for three years and a third time positive test could mean cancellation of licence.
The drugs to be tested for include amphetamine, methamphtamine, cannabis, cocaine, opioids, marbiturates, benzodizipine and MDMA or ecstasy. Flight crew members and other key aviation personnel in operations are mandatorily subjected to breath tests to ensure they are not intoxicated when reporting for work.
