Increasing the responsibility of aircraft operators in managing and supervising flight crew members

The Ministry of Transport is seeking comments on the draft Circular amending and supplementing a number of articles of the Civil Aviation Safety Regulations in the field of aircraft and aircraft operations, issued together with Circular No. 01/2011 of the Ministry of Transport and the amending and supplementing Circulars.

Aircraft operators must ensure that all flight crew members have no alcohol concentration in their blood or breath when performing flight missions over Vietnam's territory (Illustration photo).

A notable point in the draft is the proposal to add regulations related to the responsibility of aircraft operators in managing the use of stimulants and alcohol concentration of flight crew members.

Specifically, in the inspection and reporting of addictive substances and alcoholic beverages, the draft proposes to add a regulation: Aircraft operators must ensure that all flight crew members have no alcohol concentration in their blood or breath when performing flight missions over Vietnam's territory and report violations to the Civil Aviation Authority of Vietnam within 24 hours of detecting related violations.

At the same time, aircraft operators must coordinate with competent authorities to ensure that violators of regulations must appear at the request of competent authorities to comply with regulations on inspection and handling of violations.

Aircraft operators must also develop policies and procedures related to periodic and unscheduled inspections and monitoring to promptly detect and prevent the use of stimulants by flight crew members in the flight safety documentation system.

In addition, breath alcohol measuring devices and users of breath alcohol measuring devices must comply with separate regulations.

In particular, the device for measuring alcohol concentration in breath must comply with technical standards and inspection regulations of the Ministry of Science and Technology.

Users of breath alcohol measuring devices must be trained in the procedures, operations, and maintenance, and must comply with the procedures and regulations related to the use and maintenance of breath alcohol measuring devices and equipment.

The draft also stipulates that any person who refuses to be tested for psychoactive substances, blood alcohol content or breath when requested by a competent authority, or refuses to provide or permit the release of test results when requested by the Civil Aviation Authority of Vietnam may be denied a license, certificate, rating, diploma or additional permit for a period of up to 1 year or have their license, certificate, rating, diploma or additional permit revoked or suspended.

At the same time, workers performing work requiring licenses, qualifications, certificates, diplomas or additional permits as prescribed by the Ministry of Aviation Safety Regulations directly or through a contract with a person with a certificate issued by the Civil Aviation Authority of Vietnam, if there is a violation related to the use of, or dependence on, stimulants, can be handled in two cases.

Accordingly, the issuance of a license, certificate, qualification, diploma or additional permit may be refused for a period of up to 1 year or the license, certificate, qualification, diploma or additional permit may be revoked or suspended.

According to the Civil Aviation Authority of Vietnam, the addition and amendment of regulations aims to ensure full compliance with the Vietnamese aviation safety regulations system with the Annexes of the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), and to improve safety monitoring capacity in various fields, including aircraft and aircraft operations.

This also ensures timely amendments and supplements to regulations that meet experience and practice in ensuring aviation safety in Vietnam as well as improving aviation safety assurance in Vietnam.

Source: https://www.baogiaothong.vn/tang-trach-nhiem-nguoi-khai-thac-tau-bay-trong-quan-ly-giam-sat-thanh-vien-to-bay-192241014152806757.htm