India Today: Mumbai: Tuesday,
11 August 2020.
RTI
activist Rajesh Modi said that he was shocked seeing the RTI reply about the
number of pilots found failing the breath analyser test before and after their
flight.
n the
year 2019, the number of pilots in India who have failed the Breath Analyser
(BA) test stood at 54. The figure was the same in 2018 as well. A breath
analyser test checks the alcohol content in the blood. The medical officers
conduct the test for the flight crew at the airport prior to the flight and
after it.
Following
are the details that have come to light through an RTI reply.
The RTI
said that actions were taken in accordance with regulation. Speaking to India
Today TV, RTI activist Rajesh Modi said that he was shocked seeing the RTI
reply about the number of pilots found failing the breath analyser test before
and after their flight.
"I
was shaken. In our country as per motor vehicle act 1949, drink and drive is a
criminal offence because genesis behind it is that a person driving a vehicle
under influence of alcohol is a potential threat and can cause accident causing
harm to the lives of others. Now, an aircraft is the most complicated/ high
speed/ high cost machine which pilots fly. So, it is scary for the passengers
to learn about alcohol consumption among pilots. Failing BA test and that too
in few of the cases repeatedly is horrific."
The RTI
activist added, "Worth to note that out of 205 FATA holders, approximately
40-50 pilots are found to be failing BA every year. This is shocking as
well." FATA (Foreign Aircrew Temporary Authorization) is issued to foreign
pilots working for Indian airlines.
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