The FAA Aims to Combine Drug and Alcohol Testing Programs

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) issued a notice of proposed rulemaking on July 2, 2012.    According to the Federal Register, “This rulemaking would allow air carrier operators and commuter or on-demand operators that also conduct commercial air tour operations to combine the drug and alcohol testing required for each operation into one testing program.”

As the regulations stand now, operators are required to conduct separate testing programs for their air tour operations.  The goal of the proposal is to maintain the mandated safety levels intended by the drug and alcohol testing regulations while reducing operating costs.    In addition to combining the testing programs the proposal also aims to clarify instructions within the rule, remove language referencing discontinued practices, correct typographical errors and re-order existing requirements for better clarification.  Interested parties can submit comments on or before August 31, 2012.

For more information about the proposal please click here.