NCAA suspends crew member over Marijuana usage
The Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) has suspended a crew member who tested positive to psychoactive substance, Tetrahydro – Cannabinol (Marijuana).
The suspect was fished out when the agency conducted a random alcohol and drug tests on licenced aviation personnel in the industry.
Out of the 87 personnel tested, the General Manager Public Affairs of NCAA, Sam Adurugboye, said that only one crew member tested positive to psychoactive substance, Tetrahydro – Cannabinol (Marijuana) and was immediately suspended by the Authority from carrying out further flight operations.
He said that further investigations were later carried out to ascertain the quantity of the substance in the urine sample of the crew member.
“Quite clearly, the crew member violated the provisions of Part 2.11.1.7. (a) and Part 8.5.1.5(a) (3) of the Nigeria Civil Aviation Regulations (Nig.CARs 2015). NCAA has therefore sanctioned the offending aircrew in accordance with the provisions of Part 2.11.1.8(f) (i) and Part 2.11.1.7(c) of Nig.CARs 2015”, Adurugboye said.
According to the Adurugboye, the Medical Certificate and Licence of the aircrew has been suspended for 180 days from the 5th day of April, 2017. Accordingly, the respondent shall cease to exercise the privileges of the License for the period of his suspension.
In addition, the crew member shall within 7 (seven) days of receipt of Letter of Sanction, hand over the Licence to the Authority’s Director of Licencing (DOL).
Adurugboye added that “the aircrew shall undergo a comprehensive treatment and rehabilitation for psychoactive substance abuse during the suspension period under the care of a Consultant Psychiatrist. At the end, the report of the Consultant Psychiatrist shall be reviewed by the Authority’s Consultant Psychiatrist Adviser. This is to enable
NCAA consider possible restoration of the suspended Medical Certificate and Licence”.
Justifying the tests, Adurugboye said that the exercise was in compliance to a directive from the Director General, Capt. Muhtar Usman.
The General Manager, in an official statement issued on Monday stated that the test was duly communicated in an Advisory Circular NCAA – AMS – 004 titled “Drugs and Alcohol Policy for Air Operators Certificate holders, Air Navigation Service Providers and other aviation stakeholders” issued to the aviation industry on 1st July, 2016 by the Authority.
According to him, a total of 87 (nos) of personnel from two airlines, Air Peace, Medview and Air Traffic Controllers (ATCs) of the Nigerian Airspace Management Agency (NAMA) were tested. They were randomly tested as they were about to embark on flight operations and air traffic control duties.
“There were 29 (nos) Pilots 10 and Cabin crew 19 from Air Peace Ltd while 42 (nos) Pilots 9 and Cabin crew 32 were from Medview Airlines. Others were from Air Navigation Service Providers, Nigerian Airspace Management Agency (NAMA), 16 (nos) of licensed Air Traffic Controllers and Trainees. 10 (nos) Licensed ATC and 6 (nos) Trainees are from the Control Tower and TRACON Centre”, Adurugboye said.
The random drug and alcohol tests for Licenced Aviation Personnel will be carried out periodically to rid the industry of menace of crew members and ATCs conducting flight operations under the influence of psychoactive substance which could jeopardise flight safety.
The exercise was conducted by Medical Assessors from the Aeromedical Department of the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA).
The Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) emphasised that it will continue to carry out consistent surveillance on the aviation industry to ensure full compliance with extant Regulations. Failure will however, attract adequate sanction.
