DGCA cracks down on drunk crew operators

The Government is all out to check that people don't get tipsy this New Year. So while the traffic police across the cities are patrolling roads with breath analyzers to promptly prosecute those who are drunk while at wheels, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation is taking no chances either. More so after as many as six crew operators were found allegedly drunk on duty.

Picking up from where it had left after the Aviation Safety week earlier this month, the DGCA has ordered breath analyzer checks at all its regional offices during the year-end festivities.

"The DGCA issued an order on December 26 on the issue. So pre-flight medical checks will ensure adherence to DGCA directions on alcohol checks as well," said a senior DGCA official. The crackdown had begun on December 29 itself.

"Mumbai office has conducted alcohol tests on airline crew between December 29 night and December 30 morning. As many as 168 cockpit crew and 416 cabin crew were tested for alcohol consumption across some nine airlines. On December 31, 149 cockpit crew and 394 cabin crew were checked," said officials.

"Those who tested positive were suspended and were penalised in the form of loss of pay and increments," added officials. During the safety week, serious lapses had come to notice at Delhi and Mumbai airports. DGCA teams conducting surprise checks had found that the airline crew including pilots did not take pre-flight briefing serious and even gave it a skip at times despite the fact that these help update the pilot on weather and navigation related details.

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