The aviation regulator DGCA has terminated the employment of an air traffic controller at the Delhi airport who tested positive for a psychotropic substance, sources said on Sunday.
According to them, this is the first time an ATC has tested positive for a psychoactive substance in the country since the regulations governing the testing of flight crew and ATCs for such substances went into effect in January 2022.
According to the sources, a drug test was administered to an ATC working at this city’s Indira Gandhi International Airport (IGIA).
According to the reports, the individual was kicked off from the ATC job when the confirmatory test report received on August 18 revealed a positive result.
From January 31, the Civil Aviation Requirement (CAR) led the procedure for checking aviation personnel for use of psychoactive substances came into force. The test is administered at random to the flight crew and ATCs.
According to the sources, three pilots from different airlines have tested positive since the rules were implemented and are now being dealt with in accordance with DGCA procedures.
As per the CAR, in case the result of the confirmatory drug test is positive for the first time, then the personnel concerned will be referred to a de-addiction center by the organization concerned for a de-addiction and rehabilitation.
The license of the same employee will be suspended for three years if they test positive a second time. And the specific personnel’s license will be revoked if the violation occurs a third time.
The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) stated in the CAR’s introduction that the widespread use of psychoactive substances, their increasing availability, and the rising number of addicted users pose severe threats to aviation safety.
“Their use causes behavioural, cognitive and physiological changes. This manifests in dependence, major health related issues and negative effect on performance,” it said.\
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