Nigeria: Aviation Authorities Conduct Alcohol, Drug Tests on Staff
The
Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) has announced that it
conducted a random alcohol and drug tests on licensed technical
personnel of two airlines and Air Traffic Control of the Nigerian
Airspace Management Agency (NAMA).
The
agency said the objective of the exercise was to ensure safety, and
that it was directed by the Director General, Capt. MuhtarUsman, in
compliance with the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO)
regulatory standards.
The
spokesman of NCAA, Sam Adurogboye said the directive duly communicated
in an Advisory Circular NCAA – AMS – 004 titled: ‘Drugs and Alcohol
Policy for Air Operators Certificate holders, Air Navigation Service
Providers and other aviation stakeholders,’ issued to the aviation
industry on July 1, 2016, by the authority.
The
agency said a total of 87 personnel from two airlines; Air Peace,
Medview Airline and Air Traffic Controllers (ATCs) of NAMA were tested
and they were randomly tested as they were about to embark on flight
operations and air traffic control duties.
“There were 10 pilots and 19 Cabin crew from Air Peace Ltd while nine pilots and 32 Cabin crew were from MedviewAirlines.
Those
tested include 10 pilots and about 19 cabin crew from Air Peace; nine
pilots and about 32 cabin crew from Medview and 16 Air Traffic
Controllers from NAMA.
Others
were from Air Navigation Service Providers, Nigerian Airspace
Management Agency (NAMA), 16 of licensed Air Traffic Controllers and
Trainees. 10 Licensed ATC and six Trainees are from the Control Tower
and TRACON Centre.
However,
out of the 87 personnel tested, only one crew member tested positive to
psychoactive substance, Tetrahydro – Cannabinol (Marijuana) and was
immediately suspended by the Authority from carrying out further flight
operations.
It carried further investigations to ascertain the quantity of the substance in the urine sample of the crew member.
“Quite
clearly, the crew member violated the provisions of Part 2.11.1.7. (a)
and Part 8.5.1.5(a) (3) of the Nigeria Civil Aviation Regulations
(Nig.CARs 2015) NCAA has therefore sanctioned the offending aircrew in
accordance with the provisions of Part 2.11.1.8(f) (i) and Part
2.11.1.7(c) of Nig.CARs 2015.
“The
Medical Certificate and License of the aircrew members has been
suspended for 180 days from April 5, 2017. Accordingly, the respondent
shall cease to exercise the privileges of the license for the period of
his suspension,” the agency directed.
In
addition, NCAA said the crew member “shall within seven days of receipt
of Letter of Sanction, hand over the license to the authority’s
Director of Licensing (DOL).”
It
said the aircrew member “shall undergo a comprehensive treatment and
rehabilitation for psychoactive substance abuse during the suspension
period under the care of a Consultant Psychiatrist.
“At
the end, the report of the Consultant Psychiatrist shall be reviewed by
the Authority’s Consultant Psychiatrist Adviser. This is to enable NCAA
consider possible restoration of the suspended Medical Certificate and
License,” NCAA also directed.
The
regulatory authority noted that the random drug and alcohol tests for
licensed aviation personnel would be carried out periodically to rid the
industry of menace of crew members and ATCs conducting flight
operations under the influence of psychoactive substance which could
jeopardise flight safety.
The exercise was conducted by medical assessors from the Aeromedical Department of the NCAA.
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