Off-duty pilots can sit in cockpit after BA test: DGCA

New Delhi: The director general of civil aviation (DGCA) has amended sections of its 22-year-old rules to prohibit “holidaying” airlines pilots from entering the cockpit or occupying the jump seat of the aircraft. The DGCA, however, has permitted “off duty” crew, particularly the pilots, to sit in cockpit while returning after duty provided they have proper authorization and clear the pre-flight and post flight Breathe Analysis (BA) test against alcohol consumption.

The DGCA has also made it clear that anyone entering cockpit – like the technicians, auditors, engineers, or any authorised persons will have to go through pre-flight and post flight BA test. No passenger is allowed to enter the cockpit in any circumstances.

The amendments have been introduced by making changes in sections 3 of Aeronautical Information Circular (AIC) of 1997, which did not include the “off-duty” pilot category.

This has been amended by adding section 4 (c): “Any flight crew member of the aircraft, who has been authorised by the operator and has the permission of PIC, whose presence in the cockpit shall be beneficial to the overall safety of the operations (can take jump seat or enter cockpit),” the DGCA circular said.

“The old AIC is 22-year-old and it did not cover the ‘off duty’ category, which has now been included for exemption under section 4 (c) to plug the gap. We have also eliminated entry of the “holidaying staff” and added penal provisions to punish them,” explained a senior official.

In its circular that DGCA has said that the steps have been taken keeping in view “securing the safety of aircraft operations” following incidents, where the holidaying staff of the airlines were reported to have been sitting in the cockpit or the jump seats to save a commercial seat.

As per director general of civil aviation circular on Tuesday, the access to the cockpit will be now limited to the on-duty crew, officer of civil aviation ministry (joint secretary and above rank), Indian Meteorological Depa-rtment, and DGCA officials, who can enter the sterile area only to perform official duties.