Revised Norms: Pilots Directed Not To Use Mouthwash, Tooth Gel; Know Why

New Delhi: The Director General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has issued revised norms for aircraft personnel.

Various changes have been made in Civil Aviation Requirements (CAR) on the procedure for medical examination of aircraft personnel for alcohol consumption, PTI reported.

Pilots and crew members can no longer use mouthwash, tooth gel or any other substance with alcoholic content that could result in positive breath analyser test.

DGCA said on Wednesday the objective of revised norms is to enhance safety of aircraft operations and streamline provisions of the existing regulations in line with feedback from industry and stakeholders from time to time for more effective implementation.

“No crew member shall consume any drug/formulation or use any substance such as mouthwash/tooth gel or any such product which has alcoholic content. This may result into positive breath analyser test. Any crew member who is undergoing such medication shall consult the company doctor before undertaking flying assignment,” said the DGCA directive.

Breath analyser equipment with fuel cell technology has been made mandatory and a procedure for oversight and surveillance of calibration agencies has been introduced.

“To prevent missed breath analyser cases, a provision has been introduced wherein the operating crew travelling as passengers shall undergo breath analyser test at the boarding station in case of ramp to ramp transfer for operating flight,” CAR dated October 30 stated.

Camera recording of breath analyser testing has been made mandatory for operators engaged in seasonal pilgrimage operations and non-scheduled operators.

“If any crew member/student pilot after reaching the airport feels that he/she is unable to discharge his flying duties safely due to sickness, the crew member will intimate his company and in such case the breath-analyser test shall not be conducted and the same will not be considered as missed BA.

“However, the crew member/student pilot shall not be rostered for flying duties on that day and subsequently shall be rostered for flying duties after review by the company doctor,” the release said.

Every flight crew member and cabin crew member will be subjected to pre-flight breath analyser examination at first departure airport during a flight duty period.

For flights originating from outside India, post-flight breath analyser examination of each flight crew and cabin crew will be carried out at the first port of landing in India, as per the norms.

There will be stringent punishments in place when a crew tests positive in a breath analyser test, depending on whether it is repetitive.