170 pilots caught reporting for duty under liquor effect

Kochi: The Civil Aviation Ministry has revealed that in the last five years, 170 pilots were detected alcohol-positive during pre-flight medical checks in the country.

Experts point out that the number is high compared to international standards. The Ministry terminated the service of just eight pilots in connection with drinking.

As per the data provided by Maneesh kumar, Director Air Safety and CPIO for Directorate General of Civil Aviation, since 2009, a total of 170 pilots were tested alcohol positive.

The information was provided to RTI activist D B Binu. In 2009, 35 pilots tested positive. In the following years 25, 20, 41, 31 pilots respectively tested positive.

During 2014, 18 pilots were found drunk. According to the department, pilots were not allowed to operate the scheduled flight and they were removed from flying duties.

The privileges that they got because of their pilot licences were suspended for 3 months to five years.

The authority so far has terminated has eight pilots. “It is unfortunate that the government initiated action against only 8 offenders while 170 pilots tested positive.” said DB Binu.

Delhi topped the list with 53 pilots while Mumbai came a close second with 43 pilots. Six pilots tested positive from Kerala region with four of them being from Kochi.

Out of the 170, 11 pilots belonged to Air India and three to Indian Airlines. The law stipulates that –“No person acting as pilot, commander, navigator, engineer, cabin crew or other operating member of the crew thereof, shall have taken or used any alcoholic drink, sedative, narcotic or stimulant drug or preparation within twelve hours of the commencement of the flight. No other person while in a state of intoxication shall enter or be in the aircraft.”