"(2/1/2015) A spokesperson for the Ministry of Transportation, Adravida Barata, told Tempo.co that Indonesian airlines are now required to have “at least” one medical personnel on standby to monitor the health of pilots and co-pilots before take-off.
This new safety requirement being imposed on Indonesian air carriers is outlined in a regulation issued by Transportation Minister Ignasius Jonan on January 15, 2015 of Health Standards and Certification of Flight Crew (Peraturan Menteri Perhubungan Nomor 8 Tahun 2015 tentang Standar Kesehatan dan Sertifikasi Personel Penerbangan).
Barata was speaking in Jakarta on Monday, January 26, 2015 at the National Anti-Narcotics Agency (BNN). He went on to explain that the medical staff would be expected to test the blood pressure of flight crew and determine if they are under the influence of alcohol. Emphasizing that specialist doctors are not required for such health screenings, the Ministry spokesman said such tests are needed to prevent pilots and co-pilots in an unfit condition from taking commands of a commercial aircraft.
The President Director of Indonesia AirAsia Sunu Widyatmoko asserted that his airline has always routinely reviewed the health of its cockpit crews. Commercial pilots must undergo a complete physical twice yearly, plus a separate additional drug screening by BNN also conducted twice a year. There are also unscheduled surprise checks conducted by the Aviation Medical team of the Directorate General of Aviation done at a minimum of once a year."