Indian aviation watchdog plans tough new drug abuse rules

Jet Airways (India)

26/08/2021 06:51

By Aditi Shah
    NEW DELHI, Aug 26 (Reuters) - India's air safety watchdog
plans stringent new penalties to tackle drug abuse in the
aviation industry, including cancellation of licences for
third-time offenders, draft guidelines published this week show.
    The rules for airlines, air navigation service providers,
maintenance firms and flight training schools, are expected to
be finalised in a little over two months, Arun Kumar, the chief
of the Directorate General of Civil Aviation, told Reuters.
    "While India has some of the strictest rules on alcohol
abuse, this is the first attempt to fight drug abuse," said
Kumar, adding that it would target several psychoactive
substances, such as cannabis, cocaine and opioids.
    Wednesday's draft rules require random drug tests of flight
crew and air traffic controllers, to ensure testing of at least
5% of the total employees of airlines and others in a year.
    Positive tests will lead to an employee being "immediately
removed from the safety-sensitive duty till a confirmatory
report is received", the draft showed.
    First offenders will be referred to a de-addiction centre
for rehabilitation, the watchdog said. Those who test positive a
second time will have licences suspended for three years, with a
third offence leading to cancellation, it added. 
    The agency has allotted 30 days for public comment on the
rules before they are finalised over the next 30, Kumar added.

 (Reporting by Aditi Shah; Editing by Clarence Fernandez)
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