India Plans Drug Tests For Pilots, Other Aviation Staff To Check Cannabis, Cocaine, Opioids Abuse

In its first attempt to fight drug abuse, the draft guidelines published this week will impact airlines, air navigation service providers, maintenance firms and flight training schools

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New Delhi: Drug abuse in flights can soon turn out to be a costly affair for those in the aviation industry as the Directorate General of Civil Aviation aims to come out with stringent penalties to tackle drug abuse, including cancellation of licences for third-time offenders.

Who will be impacted by the proposed rules?

The draft guidelines published this week against drug abuse will have a bearing on airlines, air navigation service providers, maintenance firms and flight training schools, as per the news agency Reuters. The rules are expected to be finalised in a little over two months, according to Arun Kumar, the chief of the Directorate General of Civil Aviation.

"While India has some of the strictest rules on alcohol abuse, this is the first attempt to fight drug abuse," Kumar told the news agency adding that it would target several psychoactive substances, such as cannabis, cocaine and opioids. As per the proposed rules random drug tests of flight crew and air traffic controllers will be required to ensure testing of at least 5 per cent of the total employees of airlines and others in a year.

What are proposed penalties?

In case an employee is found positive the person will be "immediately removed from the safety-sensitive duty till a confirmatory report is received", the draft mentioned, according to the agency.

First time offenders will be directed to a de-addiction centre for rehabilitation, and those who test positive a second time will have licences suspended for three years, with a third offence leading to cancellation, the draft added.

The aviation watchdog has given 30 days to receive public comment on the rules before they are finalised in a month.