UAE: The General Civil Aviation Authority, GCAA, has successfully carried out alcohol tests at all civil airports in the UAE.
GCAA director general Saif Mohammed Al Suwaidi said that the alcohol test is part of a risk-based approach to control any such occurrences of foreign aircraft flight crew operating under the influence of alcohol in UAE airspace.
"When a particular flight is selected for alcohol testing, the pilots reporting for duty will be subject to breathalyser tests. Pilots found to exceed an alcohol limit of 0.02 grams (20mg) will not be permitted to fly," said GCAA Assistant director general for Aviation Safety Affairs Sector Ismaeil Mohammed Al Blooshi.
This limit has been determined based on international best practices. It is equivalent to a ‘zero tolerance’ standard, with a small allowance for the potential presence of alcohol in the breath, due to other factors such as medication or mouthwash," he added.