Aviation workers to face drug and alcohol tests

[Duff Man]

The Federal Transport Minister is today unveiling plans to force most aviation workers to undergo mandatory drug and alcohol testing.
Warren Truss will announce that workers in 'safety sensitive' jobs will be targeted for testing, including pilots, refuellers, cabin crew, baggage handlers and air traffic controllers.
A spokesman for the Minister says the testing will be carried out by employers when hiring staff and workers will also undergo on-the-job testing.

Full story: http://www.abc.net.au/news/newsitems/200605/s1628410.htm
Duff Man has some slabs to offload from the wagon, going cheap :p

[Pass-A-Frozo]

I wonder if they will fully cost recover the test?

"Sir, if you can blow into the breathalizer...ok.. you're fine, that will be $32 thanks" :p

[Elroy Jettson]

I guess if CASA is doing it, the results wont be available for at least 6 months, and when they do come through, they will be sent to the wrong address anyway! :}

[185skywagon]

Obviously, no-one sees this as a complete over-reaction to an accident where the use of drugs did not appear to be linked to the outcome?
Since this snuck under our radar, it would be good if our State Govs had the guts to do this to all drivers as well.

[Sunfish]

Victoria has random drug driver tests.

[185skywagon]

Sunfish,
Well, the impression I got was that it was not going to be random for aviation. More like blanket testing.
185

[compressor stall]

As someone who has been screened at mines and has been the subject of two false positive urine tests (especially humerous as those miners who did dabble in the stuff cleared OK!) I wonder at its implications.

What sort of screening, and for what? Is it a breathtest? Is it a urine test for other drugs?

When is it conducted? On the ramp, before departure? Companies should be concerned with the concept of random pee tests for drugs before departure due to thier inaccuracy (an anticol earlier in the week was most likely the cause of my positive for opiates!). Not a good look, not only for the pilot, but for the company concerned.

I seem to recall the first driver charged with drug driving was subsequently cleared.....

[185skywagon]

CS,
I seem to recall the first driver charged with drug driving was subsequently cleared.....
Not before he was demonised by the press. :{
Sounds like it might be another poorly thought out knee- jerk reaction.
185.

[beer bong]

Another knee jerk reaction from that w@nker Warren Truss.How can he still possibly have this portfolio with all fukc ups he has caused.

Get him out of Dotars for fukc sakes.:\

[scrambler]

Lots of other industries successfuly drug test, its about time we caught up in this one

[karrank]

For ATC it is an ICAO knee jerk.

Can only be a good thing I reckon. A year ago Airservices handed out freebie drug test kits. I got one pack of each and gave it a go, tried again after a party where some of the smoke smelled funny and am not frightened.

[Pappa Smurf]

Having failed a drug test myself,i sat back and laughed as i dont touch the whacky weed.Theres no big deal if you fail because the machine is at fault.If that happens the sample is sent away for a full test.
On the opiate side ,they ask if ya on medication (cough medicine etc) before the test.Funny thing is if you had a roll with poppy seed on it that shows up.
If ya into the drug scene then start to worry,but if not theres nothing to fear.
Depending on the company its usually 3 strikes and your out.
The whacky weed is the killer--it stays in the system for ages much like having a beer binge and still blowing .05 after a week.
i think the road side drug tests they take a saliva swob to see if you have been on it in the short time thus driving while up with the pixies.
Im surprised its taken this long with all these "duty of care" laws these days.

[Mr.Buzzy]

And all this crap without any regard for being "0.05" after being awake for 12 hours?

What crap!

Interested in saving lives? Start barking up the fatigue tree!

bbbbbbbbbbbbbbzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzbbbbbbbbbzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz zzzzzz

[dinoburner]

Agreed Buzz.

There was an interesting study done into fatigue on aircrew by some post-grad students at Flinders Uni (SA).

I'm sure their paper makes interesting reading, however the guts of is that fatigue has far more effect on cognitive functions that most of us would like to admit (duh).

Also... the way the students tested fatigue levels, was to take a saliva sample. From this, they can tell how fatigued you are (something to do with compounds in the saliva and the brain etc - medical stuff).

Testing for fatigue on the way? :cool:

[runway16]

Mr.Buzzy hit the nail on the head when he mentioned that CASA, who read these threads, should be looking at fatigue as a major problem in GA.

In the ever continuing chase for a dollar employers want to do more with less staff. That means the likes of having a pilot on duty for 10 hours a day for three weeks on end before getting a day off then back again into long stretches without a day off.
Meanwhile subject employer swans off to places not advised to return commenting on feeling great after a week off with the family !
10 hours duty time could mean only 10 hours on standby or some flight time or other duties such as moving fuel drums around, working the ticket office etc. Sometimes a day off is the day that the weather turns to unflyable.

F&D time sheets become more Fraud and Deception sheets than real times.
OK, so if the pilot was to report this situation to CASA, and CASA investigated, there would be no pilot flying job as soon as they left the site.

Sure CASA do notified and spot audits but they never seem to find or want to see duty times outside those required by the regs and so the employer rides off into the sunset with the attitude that he can continue.
While the good minister talks about the problems of drugs and alcohol there are in fact more problems with fatigue and resultant poor judgement decisions, i.e. the pilot was just plain tired, than there are with drugs and alcohol consumption.
Unfortunately there are more brownie points, = votes, in getting on top of those 'druggie & boozed pilots' than there are in ensuring that your GA pilot is a fresh wide awake alert aircraft driver. In particular the GA pilot away from the big cities.

Discussion has been made comparing the trucking industry. The common thread in trucking accidents is that the driver has been on the road for too many hours at a stretch and was just fatigued when his truck hit a tree or another vehicle.

I for one would be interested in hearing what other GA pilots can input on the subject of fatigue and the long duty hours that small employers expect and demand from their pilots.
How many pilots can relate to starting to go to sleep on final approach with a bunch of fare paying pax behind them? Definately more than one I suspect!

Perhaps CASA should be looking at busting a few employers who openly abuse pilot F&D times and should then publice those busts as an open lesson to others who want to do the same.

Gentlemen the cockpit door is open. Start talking.

[Mr.Buzzy]

Thanks Dinoburner and RWY16,
the sad thing is that they will continue with this drug testing garbage until rostering staff for less tiring duties becomes a cheaper option!

We have become the industry of token gestures! Sending pilots through security screening to give the correct message to the public. Drug testing of pilots to give the correct message to the public. Where is this going to end?

"Excuse me captain, please come this way for a random blood sugar test." After all it would be irresponsible to go to work without having breakfast!

Take your stinking needles and spit swabs and let us go back to being the responsible, upstanding citizens that we were once respected as!

bbbbbbbbzzzzzzzzzbbbbbbbbzzzzzzzzzzbbbbbzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz zzzz

[Eagleman]

Why should random breath testing worry any pilot who complies with company policy?

Wake up to yourselves.

I would really encourage random testing of gound handlers, flight attendants and ground engineers. That is where there will be a problem.

So let's be in it in the overall interests of safety.

[dinoburner]

Sending pilots through security screening to give the correct message to the public. Drug testing of pilots to give the correct message to the public. Where is this going to end?
"Excuse me captain, please come this way for a random blood sugar test."

I like your thinking Buzz, a door next to security screening labelled "Air Crew Pre-Flight Testing"... which leads directly to air-side and responsibility ;)

[Waka Rider]

When are the officals, MP and other law makers going to be finger printed, photographed, felt up. Now lets booze and drug test them everyday they go to work.

[dinoburner]

When was the last time you saw a pollie/VIP go through security screening?

Airport 'Facilitation'... of designated persons. Because they are considered 'responsible'. Can't trust the drivers though...

:)