DGCA to re-start mandatory breath analyser tests for pilots, crew as situation improves
The pilots' union of Air India and several other airlines had already appealed to the DGCA requesting that BA testing be halted since they raised the danger of infection during the COVID pandemic's breakout.
FollowThe Director-General of Civil Aviation plans to reintroduce obligatory breath analyser testing for all pilots, crew, and other flight crew members. During the fatal second wave of the COVID 19 epidemic in India, the mandatory daily breath analyser testing was halted. The DGCA, the aviation authority, informed the media on Tuesday that they were monitoring the situation. It further said the situation is improving, and if there is no third wave, they will restore it to 100%.
Arun Kumar, the DGCA's chief, recently convened a meeting to discuss several concerns, including the required breath analyser test. "The officials and stakeholders have been requested to produce a thorough report on this," said the official. When asked how breath analyser tests are conducted at airports, the official stated that the DGCA conducts random checks.
The pilots' union of Air India and several other airlines had already appealed to the DGCA requesting that BA testing be halted since they raised the danger of infection during the COVID pandemic's breakout.
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This comes after the Delhi High Court (HC) directed the DGCA to establish guidelines to ensure that all criteria and processes for administering BA testing during the pandemic be followed. Concerning Pre-Flight BA Compulsory Tests, the DGCA intends to notify the High Court of their impending implementation.
Meanwhile, the Delhi traffic police have begun intoxicated driving tests in the national capital. To avoid the spread of COVID-19, breath analyser testing was suspended in March 2020 since many people had to touch the equipment used to measure the amount of alcohol in a driver's breath.
