BEWARE! Mumbai Airport gets breath analyser facility to detect consumption of alcohol - All you need to know

It's a WARNING and ALARM BELL! GVK Mumbai International Airport Limited (MIAL) managing Mumbai's Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport (CSMIA) has announced the inauguration of the Breath Analyser (BA) examination facilities. Noteworthy, GVK MIAL has initiated BA examination facilities to detect consumption of alcohol within 15 days of the Director General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) CIVIL AVIATION REQUIREMENTS (CAR) issue. 

"As a commitment given by MIAL, the airport has now expanded its existing passenger safety measures in compliance with the latest directive given by the Director General of Civil Aviation (DGCA). The earlier requisite demanded detection of the consumption of alcohol only among the on-duty pilots and cabin crew through a breath analyser test," GVK Mumbai International Airport Ltd said in a statement.

With the newest requirement, the examination is now applicable to all employees performing safety-sensitive activities at the airside. The BA examination at CSMIA will be carried through the existing 24/7 medical centres available at the airport terminals and the three newly added facilities at the airside. The BA examination facilities at CSMIA was inaugurated on the auspicious occasion of Gandhi Jayanti – 2nd October 2019.

In alignment with the latest edict by DGCA, any and every person performing safety-sensitive activities at the airside would be subjected to the breath analyser examination which includes personnel from Aerodrome Operations, Aerodrome Rescue and Fire Fighting, Ground Handling, Aircraft Maintenance, and ATC. 

Initiated by the aviation body, the requirement states that an organization must use a scientifically valid method such as a random number table or a computer-based random number generator to select the personnel for testing.

Speaking about this newest initiative undertaken by GVK at its terminals, MIAL Spokesperson said, “Passengers’ safety holds the highest priority and GVK MIAL endeavours to provide passengers with utmost security through thorough checks by experienced in-house medical team for employees working at the airside. This is a further assurance to the passengers that when they fly via Mumbai, they not only receive world-class amenities but also services that are as per strict guidelines laid down by regulatory bodies.”

"As one of the world’s busiest single runway airport, passenger traffic at GVK MIAL has continued to remain robust and promising - empowering CSMIA as a premier international aviation hub in India," the statement by GVK MIAL added.