NEW DELHI: The continuing one-time dope checks being performed for all Air India group pilots starting final Thursday has to date seen two non-negative ends in screening checks out of the “300-400” cockpit crew members who’ve given their samples to date. Now confirmatory checks are being performed for these two and so they have been taken off flying responsibility pending the ultimate report, say sources.AI and AI Specific collectively have about 5,000 pilots. Following the pilot-in-command of AI’s badly rattled Aug 4 Phuket-Delhi flight testing optimistic within the confirmatory take a look at, the group had determined to conduct the take a look at as a one-time train on all its pilots.Directorate Normal of Civil Aviation (DGCA) guidelines stipulate that “in case the screening take a look at (for psychoactive substances) is non-negative, the worker shall be instantly faraway from the security delicate responsibility until a confirmatory report is obtained. In case of optimistic confirmatory take a look at for the primary time, the involved worker shall be referred by the organisation” for de-addiction.DGCA guidelines stipulate {that a} pilot testing optimistic for consumption of psychoactive substances for the primary time be referred to for de-addiction and rehabilitation. Such crew member can return for lively duties with a destructive dope take a look at report.However after resuming flying if the identical particular person checks optimistic for psychoactive substances once more, their licence shall be suspended for 3 years. And if after resuming flying the identical particular person once more checks optimistic for the third time, the flying licence is cancelled.However these guidelines could change quickly because the aviation ministry has directed DGCA to on the earliest amend the prevailing dope testing necessities by growing the proportion of personnel to be mandatorily examined. And likewise go in for stricter penalties for these testing optimistic after taking “actual” medicine whereas giving second and third possibilities for these doing so after taking some medicines.
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Senior pilots say there’s a significant issue with the DGCA’s civil aviation requirement (CAR or guidelines) on the topic titled “process for examination of the aviation personnel for consumption of psychoactive substances” because it treats crew members testing optimistic attributable to taking some medicines or being hooked on “actual” medicine.“Airways give their pilots a lists of medicines to keep away from some hours earlier than working a flight. However it’s humanely potential to mistakenly pop in a tablet for allergy, sinus, some ache after which take a look at optimistic. Such individuals should be given second and third possibilities. However doing the identical with some who’s an addict or took leisure medicine shouldn’t be carried out. There must be severe deterrence,” mentioned a senior pilot.
