Camera recording of breath-analyser test for aircraft operators mandatory: DGCA

NEW DELHI: The aviation watchdog, DGCA, said on Wednesday that camera recording of breath-analyzer testing has been made mandatory for aircraft operators engaged in seasonal pilgrimage operations and non-scheduled operators.

The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) chief, Vikram Dev Dutt, said that they have revised the Civil Aviation Requirements on Procedure for Medical Examination of Aircraft Personnel for Alcohol Consumption with the objective of enhancing the safety of aircraft operations, coupled with streamlining provisions of the existing regulations in line with feedback from industry and stakeholders from time to time for more effective implementation.

Highlighting the modifications, he said that if any crew member or student pilot, after reaching the airport, feels that he or she is unable to discharge his or her flying duties safely due to sickness, the crew member will inform his company, and in such a case, the breath analyzer (BA) test shall not be conducted, and the same will not be considered a missed BA.

However, the crew member or student pilot shall not be rostered for flying duties on that day and subsequently shall be rostered for flying duties after review by the company doctor.

“Breath analyzer equipment with fuel cell technology has been made mandatory, and a procedure for oversight and surveillance of calibration agencies has been introduced,” said Dutt.

The DGCA chief further said that to prevent missed breath-analyzer cases, a provision has been introduced wherein the operating crew travelling as passengers shall undergo a breath-analyzer test at the boarding station in case of amp-to-ramp transfer for the operating flight.

“To facilitate operators, especially in general aviation, the scope of facilities for undergoing the breath analyzer examination has been enhanced,” said Dutt.

“Camera recording of breath-analyser testing has been made mandatory for the operators engaged in seasonal pilgrimage operations, and non-scheduled operators and state governments shall also ensure compliance with this requirement at base stations and in cases where they are away from base stations for more than two days and operate a flight from there,” the official added. (IANS)

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