More pilots, engineers, cabin crew and ground staff, including refuellers, are turning up for work affected by alcohol or drugs including cocaine, methamphetamines and cannabis. Fourteen airline and airport employees working in “safety sensitive” roles across the nation failed drug and drink tests administered last year — up from 11 in 2014. While that represents just a small percentage of total staff, industry insiders said even one affected person raised safety alarms, given their critical roles in the safety of passengers and other people, and the rising number of positive tests was an even greater concern. An industry insider also raised concerns that others were going undetected. It comes after it was revealed last week that Qantas sacked a pilot after he groped a female co-worker while drunk and stoned on a stopover. Nine employees failed alcohol tests in 2015 — including an aircraft engineer, three airport ground staff, four cabin crew and a sport aviation flyer. The legal limit for alcohol is slightly lower than the standard drink-drive limit. And five people tested positive for drugs including three airport ground staff who tested positive for cannabis and methamphetamine. One student pilot tested positive for cannabis and an engineer tested positive for cocaine.
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