NCAA conducts alcohol/drug test on 87 personnel

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8 years ago

THE Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) has conducted a random alcohol and drug tests on 87 licensed aviation personnel in the industry.

Out of the 87 personnel tested, one crew member has tested positive to psychoactive substance, Tetrahydro – Cannabinol (Marijuana) and was immediately suspended by the Authority from carrying out further flight operations.

According to the NCAA, further investigations were later carried out to ascertain the quantity of the substance in the urine sample of the crew member.

The crew member having 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), has therefore been sanctioned 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 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.”

In addition, 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).

The aircrew is also expected to 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 to enable NCAA consider possible restoration of the suspended Medical Certificate and License.

The exercise was in compliance to a directive from the Director General of the agency, Captain Muhtar Usman which was 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 1^st July,2016 by the Authority.

In total, 87 personnel from two airlines, Air Peace and Medview with Air Traffic Controllers (ATCs) of the Nigerian Airspace Management Agency (NAMA) were tested.

They were randomly tested as they were about to embark on flight operations and air traffic control duties.

There were 29 personnel comprising 10 Pilots and 19 Cabin crew from Air Peace and 42 personnel consisting of nine Pilots and 32 Cabin crew from Medview Airlines tested.

At the Nigerian Airspace Management Agency (NAMA), 16 personnel consisting of 10 licensed Air Traffic Controllers (ATC) and six trainees all from the Control Tower and TRACON Centre were tested.

The random drug and alcohol tests for licensed aviation Personnel will 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 Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA).

The NCAA therefore promised to continue to carry out consistent surveillance on the aviation industry to ensure full compliance with extant Regulations warning that failure to comply attracts adequate sanction.