In a serious step taken for air security, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has notified that from January 31, flight crew members and air site visitors controllers in India will be examined for psychoactive substances equivalent to hashish and cocaine.

In its order, the aviation security regulator DGCA famous that the worldwide unfold of working psychoactive elements is the explanation behind taking such a move.
The primary availability of psychoactive substances and the growing variety of addicted customers was a ‘critical concern to aviation security, DGCA famous.
The DGCA had issued draft guidelines where it proposed to arrange diagnostic infrastructure to conduct the checks final yr itself earlier than the COVID-19 pandemic struck.
- Now the regulator got here out with one other set of draft guidelines a number of weeks in the past.
Know in regards to the new rule

Registered industrial airways and air navigation service suppliers will have to hold out random drug testing.
- The responsibility of sending the checks is moved to the airways and the air site visitors providers supplier on the strains of breath alcohol testing.
In India, the Airports Authority of India (AAI) is accountable for air site visitors providers.
At least 10% of the flight crew members and air site visitors controllers employed by them have to undergo testing annually.

All air service suppliers have to hold out drug tests earlier than doing any particular person or admitting a trainee pilot.
This consists of industrial plane operators, upkeep and restores organizations, flying coaching organisations, air navigation service suppliers.
- A take a look at must be carried out on the first accessible alternative on all these aviation personnel who have refused a drug take a look at to an overseas regulator.
Aviation staff will be examined for psychoactive substances equivalent to amphetamine, hashish, cocaine, opiates, barbiturates, and benzodiazepine.
Directorate General of Civil Aviation
Any positive take a look at will have to be reported to the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) within 24 hours.
In case the report of a drug take a look at is ‘non-negative’, they will take away the worker instantly from responsibility until they obtain a confirmatory report.
If the confirmatory report can be positive, then the worker will be referred to a de-addiction center for a rehabilitation program.

What is the necessity for this new rule?
The new rule by DGCA is expected on account of ‘critical considerations to aviation security.
The aviation security regulator famous that the worldwide unfold of using psychoactive substances.
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Source: News express