PILOTS FACE DRUG TESTS

QANTAS and Ansett pilots may be subjected to random drug and alcohol
testing, according to the Civil Aviation Safety Authority.

The move follows several incidents, including fatalities, in the private
air industry over recent years.

CASA spokesman Peter Gibson said there was no legislation far sobriety
testing of pilots after accidents and incidents.

"Airline pilots of course are subject to strict regulation by their
employers and I believe both majors are looking at random testing," Mr
Gibson said.

Large commercial airlines in Australia have no report of drug or alcohol
problems but there have been a number of death among smaller private operators.

Mr Gibson said CASA believed drugs were involved in several cases over
recent years where small private aircraft had crashed.

He said one case was currently under investigation by police.

"The odd case occurs and that is normally dealt with by the state police as
it is part of other offences, such as drug running, or the pilot is dead
and there is no action we can take."

Qantas executive general manager David Forsyth said it would abide by any
regulation for random testing if required by CASA. But it was necessary for
the Aviation Audiority to legislate for random testing.

An Ansett spokesman said pilots had an obligation not to have any alcohol
or banned drugs in their system.