FAA REDUCES ALCOHOL TESTING

By The Associated Press

WASHINGTON (AP) -- The government has decided to cut back on alcohol checks
in the aviation industry because so few people tested positive.

The Federal Aviation Administration announced Monday that it will require a
minimum of 10 percent of industry workers in safety- and security-related
jobs to undergo random alcohol tests this year. That is down from a 25
percent requirement in the past.

The alcohol violation rate was approximately 0.06 percent for 1995 and
approximately 0.08 percent for 1996. Under the law, the share checked can
be cut to 10 percent if fewer than one-half of 1 percent test positive two
years in a row.

The random minimum drug testing rate remains the same, at 25 percent. The
share testing positive for drugs last year was 0.71 percent, which is more
than one-half of 1 percent.