13 employees of airlines, airports fail alcohol test
7 Indigo staff, one each from Goair, Spicejet suspended
NEWDELHI: Thirteen employees of various airlines and airports have failed the breath analyser test over the last two months and necessary punitive action has been taken against them, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) said on Monday.
At least four of these employees are drivers who ferry passengers from the terminal to the aircraft. While seven of the employees are from Indigo, there is one each from Goair and Spicejet. The offenders include drivers, aerobridge operators, customer services official and even one management person.
The tests were conducted as part of the new rules notified by the air regulator in September under which 10% of non-flying staff of airlines were to be tested for alcohol use.
“What it reveals is that there is a problem and needs to be dealt with firmly,’’ DGCA chief Arun Kumar told HT.
A note released by the regulator said the employers of the errant staffers had taken necessary action.
“The employers have taken punitive action as proposed in the Civil Aviation Requirement and we acknowledge their co-operation and support,’’ said the release.
From November 1, the test will be mandatory for all crew members, especially for employees in the Air Traffic Control (ATC). With this, 25,000 employees other than pilots and crew members will come under the breath analyser testing rules.
According to the rules, a first offence will invite a three-month suspension while after the second violation, the suspension will be for a year. “This will provide a good deterrent to all non-flying members who were previously getting away with being drunk on duty,’’ a civil aviation ministry official told HT.
By October 30, the mandatory testing will begin in Delhi, Mumbai, Bangalore, Chennai, Hyderabad, Kolkata, Ahmedabad,
Cochin, Lucknow and Guwahati airports, while 33 others will begin by November 30. By January 1, this rule will apply to all other airports and their staffers functioning across the country.
A DGCA official said in Mumbai, a senior airport electrician, who was working for a sub-contractor failed the test on October 18.
The official said of the seven Indigo airside workers, who failed the tests, two are customer service officers, four are drivers and one is a cleaner.
The suspended Spicejet and Goair employees are a driver and a senior ramp officer respectively, the DGCA official added.
Indigo and Spicejet did not respond to queries sent by HT.
OFFENDERS INCLUDE DRIVERS, AEROBRIDGE WORKERS, A CUSTOMER SERVICES OFFICIAL AND ONE PERSON FROM THE MANAGEMENT