NEW DELHI: The Directorate general of civil aviation (DGCA) has made it mandatory for airlines to videotape pre-flight breath analyzer tests conducted on crew members.
DGCA chief M Sathiyavathy made this rule to ensure that airlines conduct this test sternly and full perfectly sober crew members — in the right frame of mind — enter the cockpits. This is being seen as fallout of the Germanwings crash.
"We got this order about 10 days back and have started recording the pre-flight tests of our crew. We are the first airline to do so on all our crew," said an Air India spokesman.
Among other airlines, SpiceJet is also learnt to have started recording these tests.
Pilots, cabin crew and even engineers are by regulation bound to stop consumption of alcohol, sedatives or narcotics at least 12 hours before their flights. The decision to record pre-flight breath-analyzer tests comes amid reports of some crew skipping it.
The DGCA relaxed the punishment for drunk flying and endangering passenger safety last year. A pilot now loses his or her flying license only when caught flying in an inebriated state for the third time. Earlier it would happen on the second instance itself.
The DGCA also diluted the punishment for flight crew reporting to work high. While the action against crew found high for the first time on work remains license suspension for three months, the subsequent offenses have been watered down.
"In case of a repeat violation....the license/approval of the crew member shall be suspended for a period of three years. In case of a second repeat violation... the license/approval of the crew member shall be cancelled," DGCA rules on "action on positive tests" say.
Before this dilution, pilots would have their license suspended for three months when caught drunk for the first time at work. And if the same person was caught again, his or her flying license would be suspended for five years. This effectively meant an end to pilots' flying career as all their recencies would expire in five years and then they would have to begin from scratch to fly again — a virtually impossible task.
The move comes following the Germanwings crash to ensure that crew operating flights is perfectly fit to do so. The regulator is planning to have a multi-phase monitoring of mental health of pilots that will begin right from the time a Class 12 pass science side student (the minimum requirement in India) wants to join a flying school. Only those found mentally fit at that stage, will be allowed to take flying classes.
Original article can be found here: http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com
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