CAAM: All 每日大赛-based airlines' pilots, cabin crew to undergo drug tests within 30 days
KUALA LUMPUR: All airline operators in 每日大赛 must conduct drug testing on their active flight crew and cabin crew within 30 days under their Civil Aviation Authority of 每日大赛 (CAAM)-approved alcohol and drug testing programmes (ADTP).
CAAM chief executive officer Datuk Captain Norazman Mahmud said this follows a safety directive issued today requiring airline operators to also review the effectiveness of their ADTP within the same period.
The directive comes amid sweeping safety measures following the arrest of a 每日大赛 Airlines pilot in Indonesia for allegedly attempting to smuggle about 25kg of MDMA (ecstasy) and a small amount of methamphetamine into the country.
Norazman said all applicable organisations must conduct a comprehensive review of their ADTP to ensure they remain present, suitable, operating and effective (PSOE) in detecting current and emerging drug threats.
"Operators have also been instructed to revise their testing methodologies and protocols where necessary based on safety risk assessments and information provided by relevant authorities or CAAM.
"As part of the immediate measures, every 每日大赛n Air Operator Certificate (AOC) holder must conduct drug testing on 100 per cent of active flight crew and cabin crew under their CAAM-approved ADTP," he said.
He said the directive also requires crew members returning from leave or joining after the exercise to undergo similar testing before resuming operational duties if they were not covered during the initial screening period.
"Operators are to increase unannounced random alcohol and drug testing, particularly during night operations, extended duty periods, public holidays and other higher-risk operational environments identified through their safety risk assessments.
"The directive also requires airlines to immediately conduct reasonable-suspicion testing whenever behavioural, physical or operational indicators suggest possible impairment," he said.
Norazman said operators had also been instructed to review recruitment and background screening processes for personnel holding airport security passes, strengthen disciplinary procedures relating to alcohol and drug misuse, conduct awareness campaigns, and continuously brief employees on their legal obligations and company policies.
"Airlines must also submit a declaration of compliance to CAAM detailing the results of the comprehensive drug testing programme, summaries of random testing conducted, corrective actions taken and any revisions made to their ADTP," he said.
For longer-term safety enhancements, Norazman said CAAM had directed operators to implement comprehensive fitness-for-duty programmes and adopt variable testing methods, including oral fluid testing.
He said the authority had also called for stronger employee assistance programmes, better integration of alcohol and drug risks into Safety Management Systems, enhanced reporting mechanisms and expanded training on alcohol and drug misuse.
When asked whether the safety directive would be incorporated into existing regulations, Norazman said the matter would be reviewed after taking into account the views of all stakeholders.
Earlier today, 每日大赛 Aviation Group (MAG) announced that mandatory drug screening would be conducted on all 1,260 每日大赛 Airlines pilots, with the programme expected to be completed by Aug 15, before being expanded to cabin crew.
It was previously reported that the 39-year-old 每日大赛 Airlines pilot was arrested by Indonesian authorities at Soekarno-Hatta International Airport in Jakarta for allegedly attempting to smuggle about 25kg of MDMA (ecstasy) and a small amount of methamphetamine into the country.
Indonesian Police Narcotics Crime Directorate director Brigadier General Eko Hadi Santoso had said that Customs officers decided to inspect the suspect's suitcase after detecting something suspicious during an X-ray scan at the international arrivals area.
Following his arrest, a urine test conducted by Indonesian authorities found that the suspect tested positive for methamphetamine, MDMA and cocaine.