Newsletter
NEW DELHI, India: The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), the Indian governmental regulatory body for civil aviation, has revised its regulations concerning alcohol consumption by crew members. According to a recently published draft, the stricter anti-alcohol policy will also apply to the use of mouthwash and toothpaste containing alcohol.
According to the DGCA, the blood alcohol level compatible with safe flying is zero because even small quantities of alcohol could jeopardise flight safety significantly owing to its effects on sensori-motor, visual, and cortical reactions. In general, crew members are not allowed to consume any alcoholic drink, sedative, narcotic or stimulant drug 12 hours prior to a flight.
In its new draft rules on alcohol consumption, the DGCA advised pilots and cabin crew not to consume any drug or use any substance, including mouthwash or toothpaste, that contains alcohol. Moreover, pre-flight medical alcohol tests will become mandatory for all pilots and cabin crew members of flights originating from destinations outside India. A breath analyser test will be used.
In addition, the DGCA advised that crew members taking medication consult the company’s medical experts before undertaking flight assignments.
According to the draft regulations, pilots and cabin crew failing the alcohol test for the second time before a flight would be grounded for two years.
