DGCA issues revised guidelines on breath analyser tests

The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has asked all airlines to have doctors or paramedics or emergency medical technicians for pre-flight breath analyser tests to make the detection of blood alcohol levels more robust for their crew.

The regulator has directed them to conduct post-flight examinations in the aircraft after arrival. If tested positive for the first time, the pilots can choose if they would want to get tested again with the same equipment or an alternate one.

“It is a well-known fact that even when the blood alcohol levels are zero in the body, there could be some effect of a hangover, which is mainly due to congeners… Even 12 hours after a bout of drink, when blood alcohol level remains zero, there is a decrement in task performance.