Question : Alcohol Test for Pilots-Cabin Crew

(a) whether the Directorate General of Civil Aviation has found that 132 pilots and 434 cabin crew of Air India have skipped the mandatory pre and post flight alcohol test this year;

(b) if so, the details thereof and the reasons therefor;

(c) whether the crew members had regularly been evading the breath analyzer test, if so, the details thereof and the reasons therefor;

(d)whether the Government is considering any options for those who evaded the alcohol test including grounding them;
(e) if so, the details thereof; and

(f) whether the Government proposes to make stricter penalty for pilots tested positive for alcohol during pre-flight examination, if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor?

The Minister of State in the Ministry of CIVIL AVIATION
(Shri Jayant Sinha)

(a) to (c):No, Madam. As per Para 4.3.2 of Civil Aviation Requirements Section 5 Series F Part-III, Issue-III, for international flights originating from outside the country, only post flight breath-analyzer examination is required to be carried out on reaching India. During surveillance, it was observed that 132 Pilots and 434 Cabin Crew of Air India, operating international flights originating from outside the country were being subjected to post flight breath-analyzer examination at final destination in India instead at first point of landing in India.;;

Air India has corrected its procedure and now post flight breath-analyzer test is being conducted on first landing station after reaching India. ;

(d) to (f): The existing regulations are adequate. If a crew member evades the Breath-Analyzer test, the privileges of license/authorization 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 license/authorization of the involved crew member are suspended for a period of 03 years.