Lok Sabha Question No. 1096 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2018-02-08
Subject: Alcohol Test for Pilots
Ministry: CIVIL AVIATION
Asked by: RAYAPATI SAMBASIVA RAO, ELUMALAI VELLAIGOUNDER

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF CIVIL AVIATION LOK SABHA

UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. : 1096 (To be answered on the %th February 2018)

Alcohol Test for Pilots

1096

SHRI RAYAPATI SAMBASIVA RAO SHRI V. ELUMALAI

## Will the Minister of CIVIL AVIATION

/

be pleased to state: -

- (a) whether the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has found that pilots and cabin crew of Air India have skipped the mandatory pre and post flight alcohol test this year and the pilots may be grounded;
- (c) whether the crew members had regularly been evading the breath analyzer test, if so, the details thereof;
- (b) if s0, the details thereof indicating the rules that govern Air India pilots;
- (d) whether the Government is considering many options for those who evaded the alcohol test including grounding them; and
- (e) if s0, the details thereof and the action taken by the Government in this regard?

## ANSWER

Minister of State in the Ministry of CIVIL AVIATION

(Shri Jayant Sinha)

(a) & (b) During the year 2018, no pilot or no cabin crew of Mls Air India has evaded the mandatory prelpost flight alcohol test till 01.02.2018.

(c) The year-wise details of the crew members of Air India who operated flight without\_undergoing the breath-analyzer test are as follows:-

Breath-Analyzer requirements are laid down in Civil aviation Requirements (CAR) Section 5 Series F Part-III, which are applicable to all Pilots, Cabin Crew and AME undertaking taxi operation, including pilots 0f Mls Air India. The relevant extracts from the regulation are attached as Annexure-I:

Year No. of Cockpit Crew No of Cabin Crew

2016

08

05

2017

03

04

2018

00

00

(Till

01.02.2018)

Action has been taken against each of the involved crew members as per the proviso of CAR Section-S, Series- F Part-III; Issue-III:

@d) & (e) The existing regulations are adequate; If a crew member evades the Breath-Analyzer test, the privileges of licenselauthorization of the involved crew member are suspended for a period of 03 months. In case of repeat evasion of Breath-Analyzer test by the crew member the privileges of licenselauthorization of the involved crew member are suspended for a period of 03 years.

.' ``

.

'

The provisions of CAR Section 5 Series F Part Issue-IIl dated 04th August 2015 are applicable to scheduled airlines as follows:-

## Safety Regulations

- For all scheduled flights originating from India, each flight crew and cabin crew shall be subjected to pre-flight breathalyzer examination:
- For all scheduled   flights originating from destinations outside India,  post-flight breathalyzer examination of each flight crew and cabin crew shall be carried out on reaching in India:
- In case of diversion of flights, due to unforeseen circumstances, to an airport where facility for pre-flight breathalyzer examination is not available, the flight crew and cabin crew shall undergo post-flight breathalyzer examination at first landing:
- All maintenance personnel shall be subjected to breathalyzer examination for alcohol consumption before undertaking any taxi operation of the aircraft:
- No crew member shall consume any   druglformulation or use any substance mouthwash/tooth gel which has alcoholic content: crew member who is undergoing such medication shall consult the company aero medical doctor before undertaking flying assignment: Any
- crew member that tests pre-flight breathalyzer examination positive for the first timelrefuses to undergo the pre-flight breathalyzer examination/refuses to undergo the pre-flight breathalyzer examination second time upon tested positive during the first test loperates the aircraft without undergoing pre-flight breathalyzer examination lattempt to evade the pre-flight breathalyzer examination by leaving the airport premises shall be kept off flying duty and their license approval suspended for a period of three months. Any
- In case of a repeat violation of the provisions contained above mentioned para, the license Iapproval of the crew member shall be suspended for a period of three years.
- In case of a second repeat violation of the provisions this CAR, the licenselapproval of the crew member shall be cancelled.
- An Instructor/Examiner/Check PilotICabin Crew In-charge detected positive for alcohol consumption   during pre-flight breathalyzer examination, will lose such ratingsl authorisation for a period of three years in addition to the above mentioned action
- Maintenance personnel detected positive for alcohol consumption during breathalyzer examination shall be off-rostered. Penal action on such cases shall be same as for flight crew:
- All such violations shall be endorsed on the individual's license by DGCA. It shall be the responsibility of Chief of Flight SafetylAccountable Manager to submit the licenselauthorisation to DGCA for necessary endorsement:
- Whenever an expatriate   pilot; operating in India is detected   positive   for  alcohol consumption during pre-flight breathalyzer examination, the FATA shall be cancelled and the expatriate pilot shall never be considered for issue of the FATA. In addition, the concerned license issuing authority of the country shall be informed:

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## Action On Being Tested Positive ln Post-Flight Medical Examination

- crew member who tests positive for alcohol consumption in a post-flight breathanalyzer examination shall have contravened Rule 24 0f the Aircrait Rules 1937. The details of his/her post-flight breathalyzer examination, licenses, ratings and approvals shall be immediately submitted along with original license /authorizationlapproval to the Director of Air Safety (HQ) , DGCA. Action on such cases shall be taken in accordance with the proviso of Schedule VI of the Aircraft Rules, 1937 . Pending action under Schedule VI of the Rules, the involved crew member shall surrender the licenses forthwith. Any
- In addition to action indicated in the above Para the licenselauthorizationlapproval of person shall be suspended for a period of one year: In case of an expatriate pilot; the FATA will be cancelled,
- crew member that refuses to undergo the post-flight breath analyzer examinationlattempts to evade the post-fiight breath analyzer examination by leaving the airport premises shall be kept off flying duties and their licenselapproval suspended for a period of three months. Any
- An Instructor/ExaminerICheck PilotICabin Crew In-charge detected positive for alcohol consumption during post-flight breath-analyzer examination, will lose such ratingsl authorization for a of three years in addition to the action mentioned above period
- In case of a repeat violation of the provisions contained, the licenselapproval of the crew member shall be cancelled: