NEW DELHI: Over 5,000 pilots of Air India and Air India Express have started undergoing “mandatory substance screening” from Thursday. The airline took this move to “protect and sustain” passenger trust – which had taken a hit after last June’s Ahmedabad crash and was slowly being restored – but has been shaken yet again after the badly rattled Aug 4 Phuket-Delhi flight’s pilot-in-command failed his dope test. After this one-time mega exercise, AI will conduct dope tests according to regulatory requirement, which as of now mandate at least 10% crew members be tested annually. DGCA is reviewing its rules and may go in for stricter consequences for those testing positive due to addiction issues and adopt a different approach for those who do so after taking medicines for pain, allergy and other issues. Pointing out that AI has over the decades “earned trust of millions of passengers and the wider community,” AI senior VP (flight ops) Captain Manish Uppal wrote to all pilots Thursday: “…This trust is our most important asset, and it is vital that we do all possible to protect & sustain it.”
Leave a Reply