Pilots and crew members cannot use mouthwash, tooth gel or any such substance that has alcoholic content, as that could result in positive breath analyser test, according to revised norms issued by aviation regulator DGCA.

Besides, various changes have been made to the norms pertaining to the procedure for medical examination of aircraft personnel for alcohol consumption.

In a release on Wednesday, DGCA said it has revised the Civil Aviation Requirements (CAR) on procedure for medical examination of aircraft personnel for alcohol consumption with the objective of enhancing safety of aircraft operations coupled with streamlining provisions of the existing regulations in line with feedback from industry and stakeholders from time to time for more effective implementation.

“No crew member shall consume any drug/formulation or use any substance such as mouthwash/tooth gel or any such product which has alcoholic content.

“This may result into positive breath analyser test. Any crew member who is undergoing such medication shall consult the company doctor before undertaking flying assignment,” as per the DGCA.

The watchdog, in the draft CAR, had proposed barring crew from using any “drug/formulation or use any substance such as mouthwash/tooth gel/perfume or any such product which has alcoholic content”.

The word ‘perfume’ is not included in the final CAR.

According to the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), breath analyser equipment with fuel cell technology has been made mandatory and a procedure for oversight and surveillance of calibration agencies has been introduced.

“To prevent missed breath analyser cases, a provision has been introduced wherein the operating crew travelling as passengers shall undergo breath analyser test at the boarding station in case of ramp to ramp transfer for operating flight,” it said in the CAR dated October 30.

Among other requirements, camera recording of breath analyser testing has been made mandatory for the operators engaged in seasonal pilgrimage operations and non-scheduled operators. Also, state governments should ensure the compliance of this requirement at base stations and in cases where they are away from base station for more than two days and operate a flight from there.

“If any crew member/ student pilot after reaching the airport feels that he/she is unable to discharge his flying duties safely due to sickness, the crew member will intimate his company and in such case the breath-analyzer test shall not be conducted and the same will not be considered as missed BA.

“However, the crew member/ student pilot shall not be rostered for flying duties on that day and subsequently shall be rostered for flying duties after review by the company doctor,” the release said.

To facilitate the operators specially in general aviation, the regulator has enhanced the scope of facilities for undergoing the breath analyser examination.

Under the DGCA norms, for all scheduled operators, each flight crew member and cabin crew member shall be subjected to pre-flight breath analyser examination at first departure airport during a flight duty period.

For all scheduled flights originating from destinations outside India, post-flight breath analyser examination of each flight crew and cabin crew shall be carried out at the first port of landing in India, as per the norms.

Stringent punishments are in place when a crew tests positive in a breath analyser test, depending on whether it is repetitive. It is applicable for both pre and post flight tests.

A veterinarian was attacked on Wednesday while he was trying to dart a leopard that strayed from the wild and was seen near Electronic City in Bengaluru south, Forest officials said.

The leopard managed to escape into the thick bushes after a sharpshooter shot a dart at it and the injured veterinarian was rushed to hospital for treatment, they said.

The big cat has been on the prowl for the last four days. On October 29, the leopard was seen entering an apartment in Kudlu. Since then, the residents in the area have been living in fear.

The Forest department on Tuesday deployed cages and drones as foresters frantically searched for the leopard. They have also brought a few experts from Mysuru to catch the animal.

“Our teams are at the spot. Combing operation is underway. A veterinarian who went to dart the leopard was attacked. He was trying to tranquilise the big cat. The leopard managed to escape but the operation is on…The leopard will try to attack when we try to tranquilise it but we have taken all necessary precautionary measures and are hopeful of catching the elusive animal very soon,” a senior forest official said.

The veterinarian has sustained a minor injury and is being treated. When he tried to tranquilize the leopard, the big cat scratched him on his neck. He is fine, the official said.

The area where the leopard was spotted is not very far from Bannerghatta National Park from where it is believed to have come to the city.

Two days after the shocking death of actress Renjusha Menon, Malayalam television actress Dr. Priya died on Wednesday after a cardiac arrest. The 35-year-old actor was eight months pregnant when she died at a private hospital. Notably, the actress had undergone a regular pregnancy check-up at the hospital recently before she suffered a heart attack. Her newborn baby is currently in the intensive care unit. 

Actor Kishor Satya broke the heartbreaking news to her fans on his social media accounts. ”One more unexpected death in the Malayalam television sector. Dr. Priya died of cardiac arrest yesterday. She was 8 months pregnant. The baby is in the ICU. There were no other health issues,” he wrote.

”The mother who is crying unable to accept the death of her only daughter. The pain of husband Nanna as a loving partner with Priya without going anywhere for 6 months. Last night while going to the hospital, the sight of sadness rained in my mind. What will you say to comfort them? Why did God show this cruelty to those innocent minds who are believers?

The mind kept repeating the questions…Unanswered questions…Before the shocking news of Ranjusha’s death goes away, next one more…When a person who is only 35 years old leaves this world, the mind is not allowed to say condolences….How will Priya’s husband and mother recover from this collapse…Don’t know…Let their minds have the power for that,” the post added. 

Here’s the post:

Dr. Priya was a well-known figure in Malayalam television and popular for her role in ‘Karuthamuthu’, but took a break from acting after getting married. She was also a doctor. According to local reports, she was pursuing an MD and was also working at the PRS hospital in Thiruvananthapuram. 

On Monday, popular Malayalam TV and film actress Renjusha Menon was found dead at her flat in Thiruvananthapuram. The 35-year-old actor was found hanging in the flat she shared with her husband Manoj, who is also an actor. Some reports say that she was going through financial troubles at the time of her death.