India's Bold Proposal Sparks Controversy: Scented Air on Airlines Threatened
India considers extending anti-alcohol regulations to include perfume use by pilots and flight attendants, aiming to ensure utmost safety and prevent impairment during flights
Finding an airline that does not view drunk flying as a termination-worthy offense would be challenging. However, a recently suggested regulation in India goes beyond that and seeks to penalize pilots for using perfume. India's Office of the Director General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), responsible for supervising the nation's aviation sector, has recently put forward a revised version of its bylaws concerning alcohol consumption.
The guidelines already mention other substances besides alcoholic drinks that could potentially lead to a positive breath test, specifically mouthwash. However, a new section has been added to highlight the inclusion of perfume.
The new section states: "All crew members are prohibited from consuming any drugs or substances that contain alcohol, including mouthwash, tooth gel, perfume, or any similar product. Consumption of such items may result in a positive reading on the breath analyzer test."
The revised content:
"Any crew member who is currently taking such medication must consult the company doctor before being assigned to a flying duty."
Though perfumes may contain small amounts of alcohol, it is not clear whether wearing perfume can lead to a inaccurate result on a breath test.
The DGCA officially ratified the air safety requirements in August 2015. The proposed addition is currently open for public comment until October 5th. Pilot intoxication has sporadically posed challenges in the aviation sector.
In 2018, Katsutoshi Jitsukawa, a Japan Airlines pilot, received a 10-month prison sentence after registering a blood alcohol level nine times above the legal limit during a breath test conducted shortly after takeoff.
Meanwhile, in the United States, Gabriel Lyle Schroeder, a Delta pilot, was removed from a fully boarded plane prior to takeoff due to suspicion of being under the influence of alcohol.
"Deltas alcohol policy is among the strictest in the industry and we have no tolerance for violation," an airline representative told CNN at the time.
