With the object of enhancing safety of the passengers travelling by air and to avoid fatal accidents, the Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal (CAAN) has introduced, for the first time, a “breathalyser” test on the pilots at the Tribhuwan International Airport. The alcohol content would be detected by three col-our indicators - green, yellow and red (red indicating an alarming level of alcohol or drug intake), and then the blood sample would be sent to the Forensic Lab for examination. The first test of this kind was conducted on eight pilots by the Office of Aviation Safety Department, on September 4. The alcohol content was detected in two pilots at the domestic terminal.

Safety enhancement measures like this one was neglected by the aviation authorities in the country thereby risking the lives of hundreds of passengers flying daily from the national airport for just too long. Now the test would not only reduce the risk factor, but the requirement to undergo it would also compel irresponsible pilots to be more careful, as they would be grounded if they failed in the randomly conducted breathalyser tests. Moreover, more than the aviation rules and regulations, this is a moral issue because consuming alcohol or drugs before or during flights is height of irresponsibility. They should know that when they fly a lot of lives come under their hands and a slight mistake can lead to a deadly disaster. In any case, Nepal is a country with difficult terrain and although fortunately so far devastating plane crashes have been few and far between, any neglect or duty dereliction is unpardonable.

In other countries even the car drivers are subjected to stringent traffic regulations in order that road accidents are reduced, not to talk of the aviation sector giving even greater care as it involves many more lives. The aviation industry should be accorded increased importance and the authorities concerned should contemplate serious action against violators of the rules. Experts at home have suggested that CAAN needs to improve similar other safety measures concerning navigation and communication and upgrade airfields in the country. In other words, instead of relying just on the new test, the authorities need to focus on matters relating to passenger safety. No compromise is acceptable as it involves human lives.