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Airlines urged to conduct more frequent medical checkups on pilots
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A Susi Air plane carrying Maritime and Fisheries Affairs Minister Susi Pujiastuti lands in Monguane, Talaud, North Sulawesi, in 2015. (Kompas.com/Ronny Adolof Buol)
To ensure pilots are drug-free, an aviation expert has suggested airlines invest more in conducting medical checkups on their pilots.
Gajah Mada University (UGM) aviation expert Arista Atmadjati said nearly all airlines adhered to a prevailing government regulation that only required them to conduct checkups on pilots every six months. The regulation, he added, had provided an opportunity for pilots to use drugs within the time interval.
“Airline companies should take an initiative to hold more internal urine tests. It will give fewer opportunities to pilots to use drugs,” he told The Jakarta Post on Friday.
(Read also: Citilink pilot suspended after allegedly showing up drunk for flight)
Although the move would be costly, Arista said it was still a better solution than to lose credibility.
Flight safety concerns have emerged following recent incidents involving pilots. Preliminary drug tests carried out by the National Narcotics Agency (BNN) on two foreign pilots of Susi Air, an airline owned by Maritime Affairs and Fisheries Minister Susi Pudjiastuti, indicated they had used drugs.
BNN spokesperson Sr. Comr. Slamet Pribadi told the Post the laboratory results of the test could be obtained next Monday.
The Transportation Ministry previously revoked the license of budget carrier Citilink pilot Capt. Tekad Purna for being deemed unfit and violating air regulations, after passengers accused him of being drunk while on duty on Dec. 28.
