The issue of pilot intoxication has received a fair amount of
media attention in Canada over the past few years. We have seen
jail sentences imposed on airline pilots, a heavily publicized
incident involving an intoxicated Sunwing pilot, and the fatal
Carson Air Accident in 2015 (where investigators found significant
levels of alcohol in the pilot's bloodstream). With the
impending legalization of marijuana on October 17, 2018, it is a
good time to consider the current regulatory framework for
drug/alcohol testing in this new context.
Drug and Alcohol Testing
In Canada, there is no regulation that requires drug or alcohol
testing for pilots. In both India and Australia, breathalyzer tests
are carried out on flight crews. In the United States, federal
regulations require that employers conduct random alcohol testing
among 10%, 25% or 50% of employees in safety sensitive functions
(including pilots).
