Don't Heli-pilots drink Tea?
Aviation regulations typically prohibit the performance of any function specified in the privileges applicable to a pilot’s licence if the holder is under the influence of any psychoactive substances which may render him unable to perform such function in a safe and proper manner.
Most of us appreciate that we should not mix flying with alcohol and / or drugs but what about the most common drug of choice in the western world, caffeine.
Caffeine is regarded as a psychoactive substance. ICAO Annex 1 takes a practical approach and excludes coffee and tobacco from the definition of psychoactive substance. Coca Cola, Pepsi, Mountain Dew, Tea, Milk & Dark Chocolate and Ben & Jerry's Coffee Fudge Frozen Yogurt, which also contain caffeine, are not so excluded. Surely the drinking of Tea is not just part of the British culture. It is a major element of society in Indian, China and the Middle East to name but two thirds of the world.
Does your organisation ban Coca Cola, Pepsi, tea, hot chocolate, and products containing chocolate from their oil rig / seismic / works canteen, crew-room or in-flight galley? Do you take care to exclude caffeine, other than in coffee, from your diet prior to flying duties?
How on earth did this definition get approved by ICAO? Weren't there any tea drinkers on the relevant committee? Should we start a movement to have the definition of psychoactive substances amended to exclude tea and chocolate as well?
SayItIsntSo!