13 airline and airport staff fail alcohol test, stringent action taken

Thirteen employees of airlines and airports have failed after taking the breath analyzer tests since September 16 and they have faced punitive action. The tests were conducted under a voluntary phase and thirteen employees have now been suspended for three months by respective Airport authorities and Airlines. “The mandatory phase will start from November onwards and shall entail our Surveillance and watch on a regular basis", a DGCA official said.

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Rules

Aviation regulator DGCA on September 16 had issued rules for the tests to be conducted at all airports for airside workers, including those handling aircraft maintenance, air traffic control (ATC) and ground handling services. The aviation regulator has specified certain rules that, “If any personnel is tested positive for alcohol for the first time, and refuses to undergo the test or attempts to evade it by leaving the airport premises, then he or she must be kept off duty and their license/approval shall be suspended for a period of three months.” The rule also states, “In case of a second violation of the provisions, the license/approval issued by DGCA of the concerned personnel shall be suspended for a period of one year”.

Seven people from ground handling services of IndiGo have been found faltering in the tests, one airside worker each of GoAir and Spicejet have failed the alcohol tests since the rules were issued, the official statement mentioned. From Bengaluru International Airport Limited, two employees — one a senior assistant and the other a manager at the airline operations control centre — have failed the test, according to the official. An employee of the Delhi International Airport Limited, who is an aerobridge operator, failed the alcohol test on October 21. From Mumbai International Airport Limited, a senior airport electrician, who was working for a sub-contractor, AMA Private Limited, failed the test on October 18, DGCA statement mentioned.

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“Employers have taken punitive action as proposed in the Civil Aviation Requirement (Rules) and we acknowledge their cooperation and support. Importantly, most of these, are involved in safety-sensitive functions at an airport and can be a potential source of serious incident or accident,” a DG said.

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