May 26, 2014
CHENNAI: Pilots continue to turn up drunk for work despite restrictions and tests. Between 2009 and February 2014, a total of 165 pilots across the country were found to have high blood alcohol levels during checks, reveal the answers to an RTI application filed by TOI.
May 26, 2014
CHENNAI: Pilots continue to turn up drunk for work despite restrictions and tests. Between 2009 and February 2014, a total of 165 pilots across the country were found to have high blood alcohol levels during checks, reveal the answers to an RTI application filed by TOI.
Between 2009 and Feb 2014, a total of 165 pilots across the country were found to have high blood alcohol levels during checks
Delhi tops the list with 50 pilots being grounded after reporting drunk for work in the last five years. In Mumbai, the number was 47, Kolkata it was 18 and in Chennai 17.
Statistics from the Director General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) show there has been a gradual increase every year in the number of pilots having higher-than-permissible limits of alcohol in their bloodstream during pre-flight medical tests — from 35 in 2009 to 41 in 2013. Till February this year four pilots were caught for being drunk. In Chennai, there has been an increase in the number of pilots found drunk on duty — from two in 2009 to five in 2013.
In its RTI reply, the DGCA said it does not have records of the number of pilots terminated for being drunk. It does not maintain data on pilots who are allowed to fly despite being drunk. The DGCA refused to divulge the names of airlines where these pilots are working. "The information pertains to third party, hence details cannot be provided according to the RTI Act," it said.
Sources say many instances go unreported because the DGCA is under-staffed and unable to verify if airlines are carrying out mandatory checks before pilots take off. Airline doctors are supposed to conduct breathalyzer tests on every pilot before a flight. DGCA officials do random checks.
Rule 24 of the Aircraft Rules prohibits crew members — pilots and cabin crew — from taking alcoholic drinks 12 hours prior to the commencement of a flight. The flying licence of a crew member found drunk on duty should be suspended for three months as per the rules. The licence will be suspended for two years for a second offence and five years is the person is caught a third time.
Sources say the shortage of experienced pilots makes airlines lax about pre-flight checks. Most cases are detected among pilots reporting for early morning departures. Instances of being drunk on duty are common during Christmas and New Year.
Courtesy: TOI
