CAAS to review regulations after drunken pilot episode

It’s hard to imagine one of the best-rated airlines in the world having a problem with drunken pilots. However, when a Singapore Airlines (SIA) pilot was caught in Australia for failing an alcohol test before a flight, it triggered the authorities back in the city-state to step in. The Civil Aviation Authority of Singapore (CAAS) is reviewing regulations and procedures to prevent similar incidents from happening again in the future. 

"Operating an aircraft while intoxicated is a serious matter. CAAS is reviewing the regulations and procedures to more strongly deter such behaviour," said Senior Minister of State for Transport Lam Pin Min in a report on Straits Times. 

The SIA pilot, who has been suspended and is being investigated by CAAS, was caught on September 15 during a random check by Australia's civil aviation authority. Dr Lam also asked if there were adequate laws in existence to deter such behaviour and whether all airlines operating out of Singapore airports have a sufficiently robust standard operating procedure to perform random tests to detect such pilots. 

Today, most civil aviation regulators, including CAAS, hold airlines responsible for ensuring that their pilots are not intoxicated before flying. In Singapore, specifically, pilots are not allowed to drink eight hours before their next scheduled flight — and it doesn’t matter if they are operating a Singapore- or foreign-registered aircraft, too. 

So far, records show that CAAS has yet to identify cases of pilots consuming alcohol or drugs before boarding planes in Singapore, but the regulator is keeping close tabs on the situation. 

Under the Air Navigation Order, the offence carries a maximum penalty of $100,000 and a jail term of up to five years.