According to the DGCA’s draft proposal to amend the “procedure for medical examination of aircraft personnel for alcohol consumption,” crew members will be prohibited from consuming any drug, formulation, or using substances such as mouthwash, tooth gel, perfume, or any similar product containing alcohol. The draft emphasizes that the consumption of these items may lead to a positive result in the breath analyser test. Crew members who are currently undergoing medication that contains alcohol are advised to consult with the company doctor before taking on any flying assignments.
Over the years, some pilots who have failed BA tests have attributed their positive results to alcohol present in products like aftershave lotion or perfumes they use, and even certain homeopathic medicines.
The proposed changes also include new guidelines for the administration of the BA test. Before each test, medical personnel will be required to ensure that the instrument registers a reading of 0.000. Additionally, they will conduct daily control tests and maintain a record of printouts to verify the functionality of both the BA equipment and the printer. If the initial BA examination yields a positive result, a repeat test will be conducted after a maximum interval of 20-25 minutes.
These stricter regulations are intended to bolster aviation safety by reducing the risk of flight crew members testing positive for alcohol during BA tests. Currently, the consequences for failing these tests are significant, with license suspension ranging from three months for a first-time offense to three years for a second occurrence, and permanent suspension for a third positive result, as per the existing rules.
(The article was originally published in TOI)