Posted by By UCHE USIM on
Henceforth, airlines' pilots and crew found in possession or consumption of alcohol, hard drugs or any psychoactive agent will have their licenses withdrawn. The warning also extends to other aviation personnel like Air Traffic controllers, maintenance engineers, among other professionals.
Henceforth, airlines' pilots and crew found in possession or consumption of alcohol, hard drugs or any psychoactive agent will have their licenses withdrawn. The warning also extends to other aviation personnel like Air Traffic controllers, maintenance engineers, among other professionals.
This, according to the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), is in a bid to ensure safety of air passengers and other consumers of aviation services.
The Director General of the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), Dr Harold Demuren, who sounded what may be described as the last warning to the aviation professionals at a one-day seminar in Lagos on the Effects of Alcohol and Drugs on Aviation Personnel, pointed out that disasters are likely to occur when workers function under the influence of alcohol.
To monitor the compliance of the all-important directive, the NCAA and other related agencies including licensed medical examiners are to begin random, on the spot testing of licensed personnel.
Demuren pointed out that the nation is burdened with the reality of time, most especially on the decadence in the society that is gradually encroaching into the safety-critical aviation industry.
"The effects of alcohol and substances of abuse ranges from changes in perception, thought and mood to physiological effects such as elevated heart rate, increased blood pressure and dilated pupils among others," he informed.
Demuren stated that Nigeria has reached a point where 'we have to declare zero tolerance on the use of psychoactive agents by all aviation personnel.'
Continuing, he said: "The use of psychoactive agents by aviation personnel is a complex problem, because it is hard to quantify the degree to which the problem may exist. In many instances, denial or minimization of the substance use by an airman cannot be proved or disproved."
Speaking on the same issue, Director Aero-medical Standards of the NCAA, Teresa Bassey, stated that often times, the issue of alcoholism is 'swept under the carpet' as individuals do not usually disclose that they indulge in taking illicit substances or that they are alcoholics.