FAA To Require Drunk Passenger Prevention Policies

Small commercial operators will need to train their pilots to spot drunk passengers before a new reg goes into effect May 28, 2027. A notice to operators issued earlier this month by the FAA’s Flight Standards Service says those who take paying customers in Part 91 (with a Letter of Authorization) and under Part 135 routinely seat them within reach of the controls. It says those who might start flying before they get on the plane increase the risk that they might accidentally or intentionally interfere with the controls. “The safety risk for such an occurrence happening is greater if passengers are under the influence of alcohol or drugs and have easy or direct access to the controls,” the notice says. “Past aviation accidents have shown that carrying intoxicated or impaired passengers can be a contributing factor.”

The solution, says the notice, is to ensure the PIC recognizes the signs of impairment and knows how to deal with the “unpredictable” behavior of lit customers. “Their behaviors could range from non-responsive, loud, argumentative, to being physically disruptive, creating a stressful environment and potential unsafe condition in flight,” the notice reads. The answer, it says, is more training. By the deadline, affected operators need to include a section in their safety management system (SMS) that covers keeping loopy passengers from grabbing the yoke or stomping the pedals. That will include behavioral recognition techniques, observation techniques, communication skills, and intervention methods to prevent boarding of impaired or intoxicated passengers. The operators will also have to set policies on how to maintain a sober environment and keep a log of impaired passenger incidents that slip through that net. Comments and suggestions are being invited at 9-afs-200-correspondence@faa.gov