Bipin Shah   Self Employed
Since my article titled “The Men ace of Drunk Airline Pilots”, my further research reveals startling facts, which the public in South Asia (India-Pakistan-Bangladesh) must be made aware off. Financial Express from Mumbai reported on March 11, 2011 that The Directorate General Civil Aviation of India had issued an order that, “ On second drinking violation Indian Airline pilots are to lose flying license for good”. The regulatory authority -The DGCA India had issued advisories to all the Airlines, but habitual alcoholics refused to comply. After “India News” front page headline, “FLY IN FEAR WITH TIPSY PILOTS”, and Indian media exploded in uproar tough action became necessary.

Drinking by airline pilots before flights is prohibited by law. Yet drinking by Indian airline pilots is widespread, and many pilots drink intoxicating liquors before flights and are caught frequently. In 2009, 42 Indian Airline pilots were found drunk when reporting for duty. Eight of them were sacked. A handout of DGCA -India stated that 21 pilots were found drunk at Delhi International Airport, eleven at Mumbai Airport and the rest ten at other airports across India. That addicted pilots and cabin crews are unable to desist liquor, and pre-flight and mid-flight drinking has become a matter of grave concern in India. Indian media and airlines have taken a serious note of it, but disciplining the pilots is not easy .

It is frightening for the passengers to see tipsy pilots emerging from cockpits, and indulging into brawls, some time with frightened passengers. All the major airlines in India have out of control pilots, who drink whisky before flying, are found drinking while flying, and are tipsy after landing. Some Indian airline pilots argue that they had been drinking prior to or during flying passenger jets including Jumbo’s since long, and had caused no accidents or incidents. The argument that they are habitual and chronic drunkards, and their on board drinking be exonerated, has been refused by all the Indian airlines, including Air India and Indian Airlines. But because very few pilots are punished, the drinking habits of Indian airlines pilots persists.

Indian airline authorities caught 57 pilots over the alcohol limit in random pre-flight checks over the past two years, but only 11 of the pilots found to be under the influence of liquor, between January 2009 and November 2010 lost their job, the Times of India repoted on March 11, 2011. Air India and Indian Airlines top the list with 13 and 12, who were found under the influence of liquor before take off. Kingfisher Airline has the dubious distinction of having maximum cases of pilots found under the influence of liquor before take off. Seven pilots of Indigo Airlines, six of Spice Jet, and three each of Jetlite, Jet Airways and Paramount Airways were detected “Alco positive”, during pre-flight medical examinations conducted by the Indian Civil Aviation Department. Rising alcoholism among pilots, especially over the limit drinking before flight, is a very serious issue in India.

Airline authorities in India brought in a rule last December grounding first-time offenders for three months and banning repeat offenders from flying. Efforts are being made to the change pilots behavior and discipline them, with punishments such as dismissals, suspensions, warning letters and a fines, but without success.

Reports of Indian passengers complaining of poorly behaved pilots are not uncommon. Two years ago, national carrier Air India grounded two pilots and two cabin crew after a four-way brawl in the passenger cabin left the cockpit unmanned mid-flight. There was no one in the cockpit while the big brawl was on between the pilots, helped by the cabin crew and the passengers. This fracas on board the aircraft could have led to a crash, killing hundreds of passengers. Finally the passengers were able to calm the pilots down and persuaded them to get back into the cockpits. An enquiry was ordered, by Air India, but findings and action taken by the authorities was kept secret. Most airline pilots drink moderately, being aware that their jobs would be on line, if they are found over the alcohol limit before boarding the aircraft. At London’s Heathrow airport, security vigilance is of a very high order. Sharp eye is kept on aircrews and passengers to ensure that they are sober before boarding aircraft. Few years back a tipsy PIA Captain was stopped from boarding the aircraft, when the alcohol test revealed that he was drunk. At Heathrow Pilots and passengers are taken into custody and disallowed from flying if found smelling of liquor. But such tests are not enforced at Indian or Pakistani airports.

Drunk and tipsy airline pilots are not a joke to be shrugged away with a laugh. Airline pilots, Captains and First Officers are responsible for the lives of hundreds of passengers and have to be highly responsible and disciplined individuals. Unlike corporate, government and military service, where a person has supervisors and officials who closely monitor behavior and performance, airline Captains are on their own, and have unprecedented freedom to do what they like. Periodic performance checks, do not reveal alcohol addictiion, character and behavioral deficiencies. Airline personnel, especially the aircrew must have not only integrity, but very high self discipline. They have to exercise abstinence in the interest of flight safety. Air travel becomes dangerous when the aircrew are not fully sober and physically fit.
Mar 26th 2011 10:19