Alcohol tests for U.S. pilots

Press, 31 January 1986, Page 22

Alcohol tests for U.S. pilots

NZPA-AP Washington American aircraft pilots will have to submit to blood-alcohol tests or risk losing their licences under a new Federal ruling announced recently. The rule, announced by the Federal Aviation Administration, will force pilots and crews to submit to checks when asked to do so by police officers. If they refuse, the F.A.A. could revoke or suspend their certificates and ratings, and the offender could face civil penalties. The move was welcomed by the Aircraft Owners and Pilots’ Association, a group representing many of the nation’s non-commercial A sfijond regulation announced by the. F.A.A. will require airliners to carry

kits for serious medical emergencies, such as heart attacks.

The alcohol-test rule, to take effect from April 9, applies to all airline, cargo and private aviators. But F.A.A. officials say the drinking problem is worst in general aviation, particularly among pilots of private planes and company aircraft. Mr Edmund Pinto, a spokeman for the Aircraft Owners and Pilots’ Association, said he believed the group’s members would favour the new rule.

At present, F.A.A. regulations forbid people to fly planes if they have consumed any alcohol within the previous eight hours. Pilots and crew members are considered legallyVarunk if they have a blood-alchol content above 0.04 per cent