Drunk driving has gained much attention in recent years as groups such as Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD) and others have fought to impose severe penalties on those convicted of driving while under the influence of drugs and alcohol. Designated drivers and other programs have gained attention as the public becomes increasingly intolerant of drinking and driving, and drunk driving is no longer socially acceptable in most circles.
While driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs is dangerous, flying, or maintaining aircraft while under the influence may have more devastating consequences. This is because drunk driving can lead to accidents which vary in the degree of damage from minor to fatal, but accidents involving airplanes are much less likely to be minor. The very nature of flying is such that accidents are likely to have much more significant effects than those of driving. This research examines the drug and alcohol policies related to aviation in general, and to general aviation in particular.
Omnibus Transportation Employee Testing Act of 1991
Recognizing the importance of keeping transportation as drug and alcohol-free as possible, the federal government enacted the Omnibus Transportation Employee Testing Act of 1991. This legislation requires drug and alcohol testing of "safety sensitive" employees in the aviation, motor carrier, railroad and mass transit industries (Jochum 1). Under the Omnibus Act (and other legislation), employees are prohibited from performing safety-sensitive tasks while using alcohol or when the alcoholic concentration in the blood exceeds 0.04 percent (below what most states consider legally drunk in relation to automobiles). In addition, employees are subject to a pre employment test, post-accident test and return-to-duty test (Parke 34).
The Omnibus Act and related rules and regulations apply to employees of companies; while this covers nearly all mechanics and others who ...