RAWALPINDI: The Pakistan International Airline has announced its decision to make alcohol testing compulsory for its cabin crew in line with European Union’s Safety Assessment of Foreign Aircraft (SAFA) programme.
A notification issued in this regard to all cabin crew members on Thursday said that European Union Aviation Safety Agency will be initiating alcohol testing during safety assessment of foreign aircraft ramp inspection. The test will be mandatory from Feb 14.
It said the test result would be considered negative when the breath alcohol concentration, measured by a breath alcohol tester is lower or equal to the equivalent level of 0.2 grams of blood alcohol concentration (BAC) per liter of blood or the national statutory limit, whichever is the lower.
The flight services authorities also said that any refusal by crew members will be considered a “positive result” and further legal and departmental proceedings would be initiated against the individual.
Earlier, the PIA management had issued a fresh Standard Operating Procedure for the crew members after a steward and an air-hostess of separate flights went missing in Toronto.
The PIA management has launched an inquiry into disappearing of two crew members.
Published in Dawn, February 6th, 2021