Transport Canada has threatened to suspend Air India’s access to Canadian airspace if it doesn’t do a thorough follow-up on the apprehension of an alcohol-impaired pilot at Vancouver International Airport on Dec. 23. The regulator sent a stern letter to India’s largest airline basically warning it not to sweep the incident under the rug. According to the letter making the rounds on social media, Transport Canada says it wants a full report on the follow-up actions taken by the airline and India’s Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) by Jan. 26 before it considers it next steps, which could include revoking the carrier’s operating certificate. Canada has a large population of people of Indian descent and Air India operates dozens of flights daily between Indian and Canadian cities.
Drunk pilot incidents are extremely rare and don’t usually create international incidents, but the circumstances of this case may have prompted the strong reaction. International carriers are supposed to do their own enforcement of alcohol regulations, but this allegedly impaired pilot slipped through whatever safeguards Air India has at Vancouver. His behavior reportedly caught the attention of employees at a duty-free shop on the secure side of the airport and they called the Royal Canadian Mounted Police. According to the Times of India, the cops reviewed security footage and tracked the pilot to the Boeing 777 he was to fly to Vienna, then Delhi, and took him off the airplane. The pilot subsequently flunked two breathalyzer tests. He was arrested and the flight was delayed seven hours while the airline found a replacement.
16 years ago, I flew, as an expat, in India. All expat flight crews and cabin crew were required to sign in for duty prior to accomplishing the BAC. The violating crewmember, if tested positive was grounded with a suspension. On the other hand, the Indian Crews accomplish their BAC, prior to signing in for duty. If tested positive, then they had the privilege of calling in sick. Big difference.
When we overnighted, a medical officer was onboard the outbound flight from India, or contracted to conduct the BAC. In either case, the BAC would be conducted upon arrival back to base in India if none were available. I was assigned to the B-737 fleet so in most cases, a medical officer was onboard the outbound flight from India. Alcohol content is dissipated with Ultra Long Haul Flights of 16 hours, plus an additional 3 hours prior to flight. So you are talking about 19 – 20 hours if the test were conducted upon arrival in India.
That said, where was the pilot nabbed? Was it in the cockpit or in the concourse? I’d be curious if, and how, this pilot made into the cockpit.
Since the article stated the authorities “took him off the airplane” and was written by Russ, a well respected aviation reporter, it is probably safe to believe the captain had at least boarded the aircraft, and that’s way too far down the path to have been allowed.
Russ: I do enjoy your daily AvBrief and I am really delighted that you started your own independent operation. Great for your readers and much better for you. Happy New Year.
I’m somewhat surprised that TC took such a hard stance on this incident. One wonders if the Indian airline, media, and government’s obvious reluctance to blame their pilot for the crash of AIC171 has put everyone, even the Canadians, on notice for cover up behavior from the airline.
So you have decided that the pilot is to blame for AIC171 crash even before any enquiry report. What about the well known issues with Boeing? Already 2 Boeing had gone down due to aircraft issues.