Call for drink and drug tests on pilots after family's death

An Australian investigation triggered by the deaths of an Auckland family and two others in a 2002 light plane crash has called for mandatory drug and alcohol testing for the aviation industry.

Kevin and Joanne Bowles, from Hillsborough, and their children Sophie and Michael were killed on Hamilton Island. Brisbane pilot Andrew Morris, 27, and American Christopher Le Gallo also died.

An Australian Transport Safety Board report last year said the accident may have been partly caused by the alcohol and marijuana that Mr Morris had consumed before take-off.

Now, a draft report by Australia's Transport Department and its Civil Aviation Safety Authority has estimated that up to 8 per cent of pilots are alcohol-dependent, with maintenance personnel, flight attendants and management similarly affected.

The report, a final version of which is due to go to Transport Minister Warren Truss next month, backs drug and alcohol testing for "safety-sensitive" aviation jobs, the Australian newspaper reports.

Current laws do not allow civil aviation safety officials to test aviation workers or for air safety investigators to conduct tests during inquiries.

Australian police also have no authority to detain or test pilots suspected of substance abuse.

But the report argues that safety is the key issue.

"Aviation operations present a potential risk to public safety if not undertaken in a safe manner. Alcohol and drug use pose a real challenge to ensuring such operational safety."

The report noted that random tests, which had in the past been opposed by unions and civil libertarians, had a "pro-active deterrent effect".

It proposes a mix of testing including pre-employment, random, on suspicion/reasonable cause, post-incident or accident and after workers have been treated for substance abuse.

And it warned that despite the Hamilton Island crash, there was still complacency in the industry.

"Indeed, the very existence of substance abuse, and therefore the need for testing or any response, is still disputed by some elements of the community."

The family died in a Piper Cherokee on September 26, 2002, while taking off for a hop to nearby Lindeman Island. Mr Morris started a steepening right turn at low level, and the aircraft stalled at low altitude.

An inquiry into the crash showed Mr Morris had been using cannabis, had consumed alcohol the night before, had taken panadeine, and had less than seven hours' sleep.

Mr Le Gallo's wife, Laura Le Gallo, was paid A$533,000 ($600,022) under Australia's Civil Aviation (Carrier's Liability) Act.

But relatives of the Bowles family were refused compensation because only dependants, or spouses, qualified under the legislation.

Because the whole family died, there were no dependants.

- NZPA