Pot times July 20, 2005
Call For Drink And Drug Tests On Pilots After
URL: http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v05/n1146/a01.htmlNewshawk: http://www.norml.org.nz
Pubdate: Wed, 20 Jul 2005 CALL FOR DRINK AND DRUG TESTS ON PILOTS AFTER FAMILY'S DEATH
Source: New Zealand Herald (New Zealand)
Copyright: 2005 New Zealand Herald
Contact:
letters@herald.co.nz
Website: http://www.nzherald.co.nz/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/300
Author: Kent Atkinson
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/testing.htm
(Drug Testing)
An Australian investigation triggered by the deaths of an Auckland family and
two others in a 2002 light plane crash has called for mandatory drug and alcohol
testing for the aviation industry.
Kevin and Joanne Bowles, from Hillsborough, and their children Sophie and
Michael were killed on Hamilton Island. Brisbane pilot Andrew Morris, 27,
and American Christopher Le Gallo also died.
An Australian Transport Safety Board report last year said the accident may have
been partly caused by the alcohol and marijuana that Mr Morris had consumed
before take-off.
Now, a draft report by Australia's Transport Department and its Civil Aviation
Safety Authority has estimated that up to 8 per cent of pilots are
alcohol-dependent, with maintenance personnel, flight attendants and management
similarly affected.
The report, a final version of which is due to go to Transport Minister Warren
Truss next month, backs drug and alcohol testing for
"safety-sensitive" aviation jobs, the Australian newspaper reports.
Current laws do not allow civil aviation safety officials to test aviation
workers or for air safety investigators to conduct tests during inquiries.
Australian police also have no authority to detain or test pilots suspected of
substance abuse.
But the report argues that safety is the key issue.
"Aviation operations present a potential risk to public safety if not
undertaken in a safe manner. Alcohol and drug use pose a real challenge to
ensuring such operational safety."
The report noted that random tests, which had in the past been opposed by unions
and civil libertarians, had a "pro-active deterrent effect".
It proposes a mix of testing including pre-employment, random, on
suspicion/reasonable cause, post-incident or accident and after workers have
been treated for substance abuse.
And it warned that despite the Hamilton Island crash, there was still
complacency in the industry.
"Indeed, the very existence of substance abuse, and therefore the need for
testing or any response, is still disputed by some elements of the
community."
The family died in a Piper Cherokee on September 26, 2002, while taking off for
a hop to nearby Lindeman Island. Mr Morris started a steepening right turn
at low level, and the aircraft stalled at low altitude.
An inquiry into the crash showed Mr Morris had been using cannabis, had consumed
alcohol the night before, had taken panadeine, and had less than seven hours'
sleep.
Mr Le Gallo's wife, Laura Le Gallo, was paid A$533,000 ( $600,022 ) under
Australia's Civil Aviation ( Carrier's Liability ) Act.
But relatives of the Bowles family were refused compensation because only
dependants, or spouses, qualified under the legislation.
Because the whole family died, there were no dependants.
- - NZPA
