India’s aviation regulator, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), has proposed sweeping changes to alcohol testing regulations that could permanently ground pilots found repeatedly violating the rules.
According to the draft amendments to Civil Aviation Requirements (CAR), pilots and crew members who test positive for alcohol three times in their career would lose their licences permanently. This marks the strictest overhaul of aviation safety norms in nearly a decade.
The new proposal removes previous leniency for first-time offenders. Under the existing framework, first violations often attracted lighter penalties, such as temporary suspension. However, the draft rules set out harsher consequences that escalate quickly with each violation, reflecting a zero-tolerance stance on safety risks linked to alcohol consumption.
The DGCA has opened the proposed changes for public feedback, with comments invited until October 24. If adopted, the new regulations would significantly tighten accountability in India’s aviation sector, underscoring the regulator’s priority of safeguarding passengers and ensuring the highest standards of professionalism in the cockpit.
Shopeju Olateju
NaijaTravels News