Pilots body asks DGCA to triple random drug testing

The Federation of Indian Pilots (FIP) has urged the DGCA to increase random drug testing of pilots from the current 10 per cent to at least 25 per cent annually, and to allow oral fluid (saliva) testing alongside the existing urine-based system. The request follows an incident on August 4 when the pilot of an Air India Phuket-Delhi flight tested positive for marijuana after the aircraft lost altitude, injuring passengers. Air India subsequently ordered mandatory dope tests for all its pilots, with two returning non-negative preliminary results.

In an August 17 letter to DGCA chief Vir Vikram Yadav, FIP said the current testing minimum is no longer adequate for India's expanding aviation sector. It proposed a hybrid model: oral fluid testing for routine and high-volume screening at airports, and urine testing where a longer detection window is needed. FIP also called for a 12-month pilot programme to validate oral fluid testing under Indian conditions, and for a confidential medication-disclosure system to help pilots avoid substances that could affect flight safety or produce a positive test.

The DGCA is holding a meeting on Wednesday to discuss more stringent anti-doping rules, sources told The Hindu Business Line. Any proposed changes would be placed for stakeholder consultation before a new Civil Aviation Requirement is finalised.