29 Pilots Failed Alcohol Test
.
NEW DELHI: Pilots flying for the ``king of good times'' seem to be having a gala time themselves. On Tuesday, aviation minister Praful Patel revealed that as many as 29 pilots failed pre-flight breath tests conducted to detect alcohol consumption.
Liquor baron Vijay Mallya's Kingfisher topped the list with eight pilots failing the breath test. Low-cost carriers IndiGo and SpiceJet were close on its heels with six pilots each caught in 'high spirits'. Three pilots each of JetLite, Paramount and Jet Airways were also caught in a similar state. "Any pilot found to be alcohol positive is immediately grounded for a period of up to six weeks," Patel said in Parliament.
Industry sources say most drunk pilots are caught during festive season — Christmas and New Year. The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) mounts surveillance at airports for pre-flight checks during this time.
There have been instances when pilots, who consumed alcohol within 12 hours of a scheduled flight, have fled from airports after finding out breath tests were being conducted.
On international flights, the DGCA often conducts post-flight breath tests to see if the cabin or cockpit crew sipped any of the alcoholic delights served on board to passengers. "This is an issue that needs to be addressed on a psychological level. The fear of getting caught has to be in the crew always and DGCA could increase deployment for this purpose once its manpower shortage is overcome," said a senior official.
NEW DELHI: Pilots flying for the ``king of good times'' seem to be having a gala time themselves. On Tuesday, aviation minister Praful Patel revealed that as many as 29 pilots failed pre-flight breath tests conducted to detect alcohol consumption.
Liquor baron Vijay Mallya's Kingfisher topped the list with eight pilots failing the breath test. Low-cost carriers IndiGo and SpiceJet were close on its heels with six pilots each caught in 'high spirits'. Three pilots each of JetLite, Paramount and Jet Airways were also caught in a similar state. "Any pilot found to be alcohol positive is immediately grounded for a period of up to six weeks," Patel said in Parliament.
Industry sources say most drunk pilots are caught during festive season — Christmas and New Year. The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) mounts surveillance at airports for pre-flight checks during this time.
There have been instances when pilots, who consumed alcohol within 12 hours of a scheduled flight, have fled from airports after finding out breath tests were being conducted.
On international flights, the DGCA often conducts post-flight breath tests to see if the cabin or cockpit crew sipped any of the alcoholic delights served on board to passengers. "This is an issue that needs to be addressed on a psychological level. The fear of getting caught has to be in the crew always and DGCA could increase deployment for this purpose once its manpower shortage is overcome," said a senior official.
