Expert Opinion
AINsight: Is 8 Hours Enough from Bottle to Throttle?
For pilots, being “hung over” is considered to be under the influence of alcohol, since human performance can be deteriorated.

Drug and alcohol testing has been in place for all safety-sensitive aviation positions since 1991. Part 121 and 135 pilots are subject to testing most commonly on a “random” basis.

For 2018, each commercial operator must test at least 25 percent of pilots for drugs and 10 percent for alcohol, selected randomly. Post-accident, reasonable cause, and return to duty (after prolonged absence) are among the other reasons that testing would be conducted.

Robert Sancetta, M.D.
AIN Contributor
About the author

Dr. Robert Sancetta is a former DC-10 captain with 11,000 flight hours. He has worked as a Senior AME since 1993 and is appointed as AME Consultant to the FAA Federal Air Surgeon.

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