Random drug testing for pilots after a pilot flies under the influence reinstated
It is apparent that the plane crashes that were caused by intoxicated pilots over the years have not slapped all of us in the face enough.
Another pilot has been arrested. Captain Miroslav Gronych flew a whole Sunwing Airlines aircraft under the influence of alcohol. He pleaded guilty just last month in the city of Calgary. His blood-alcohol was 3 times the legal limit for driving a road vehicle but is said that it doesn’t apply to a plane. Random testing for pilots and cabin crew are being brought back. You would think it would be worse for flying a plane for so many reasons.
Leon Cygman, the chair of Mount Royal University’s aviation program:
“Pilots have a huge responsibility with a lot of passengers sitting behind them. I think those passengers would like to be assured that the pilot is sober and able to fly the plane.”
The aviation regulations in Canada forbids any member of a flight crew from being active within 8 hours of taking alcohol or under the influence of alcohol.
According to Pilot Jock Williams, “it might be worthwhile to institute some form of random drug testing.”
He is a former flight safety official.
“I worked for Greater Toronto Area Airports Authority when they had one and I thought it worked very well. The biggest thing is the system of self control by the pilots has worked, as it has with physicians and lawyers and other professionals. We don’t test them and I don’t think that, as yet, we see there’s not enough of a problem [within aviation] to do it.”
There is a high probability that this random testing will don’t be welcomed, warmly. I guess it is because personal medicinal issues like HIV could be out there; things you might want to keep private. According to Cygman:
“There are checks and balances in place in the aviation world to make sure that everyone on board is able to function and do their job correctly. And in this case, it worked. The co-pilot did not feel comfortable with the behaviour of the pilot and called him out on it, as he should.”
Gronych has been sentenced to 8 months in jail, disregarding time served, and will not be able to fly for 1 year when he is freed.
