New Delhi: India’s Aviation Regulator DGCA has issued rules for all airports to conduct alcohol tests on airside workers involved in Aircraft Maintenance, Air Traffic Control, or Ground Services.
Randomly selected 10 % of all employees, by category, department, or organisation would be tested daily in 10 airports by Oct 30, 33 more airports by November 30 and all other airports by December 31.
The DGCA has stated that for a first infraction, the employee will be off duty (including licence and approval being suspended) for three months – this would apply to anyone found with high alcohol, and also to someone who attempts to evade the test by leaving the airport premises.
Scientifically valid methods like random number tables or computer-based random number generators will have to be used to identify the employees picked up for the screening.
All technically trained personnel, drivers assigned in the operations area, Apron Control personnel, aerobridge operators and ATC personnel would be covered in breath-analyser testing.
