Guidance On Drug Testing By FAA

Drug and alcohol tests of the safety aviation employees help in protecting the security of the public. Testing happens to be a prerequisite while considering the FAA regulations and considering the Testing Act of 1991 (Omnibus Transportation Employees). 

The Drug Abatement Division manages the aviation sector’s compliance with alcohol and drug testing regulations and laws. It can be accomplished by performing the on-site inspections and providing guidance to individuals, companies, service agents, contractors, besides establishing policies and procedures for increasing the program’s efficacy. Now, let us learn what random testing and pre-employment testing are: 

Outlining What Random Testing Is

Ensure that the dates and administered random alcohol and controlled substances tests spread properly throughout a calendar year. DOT guidance recommends performing random testing quarterly. Due to the disruptions by the COVID-19 emergency, you might be unable to perform the random tests during the recent testing cycle. In such cases, makeup tests by the year’s end to accomplish a prerequisite of 10% for the testing of alcohol and a 25% rate for drug testing.  

Document in writing the actions you may have taken to locate the alternative collection site or any form of testing resources. Also, state why you may not be able to conduct the tests on the selected employees. You can attend further details by reviewing the Random Drug and Alcohol Testing Program Guidance Alert by the FAA. 

Understanding What Pre-Employment Testing Is

When inept of conducting the pre-employment drug testing and obtaining negative results, you might be prohibited from recruiting or even transferring the individual into a safety-sensitive place. This fact goes true when you try conducting pre-employment testing for alcohol. Factually speaking, there are absolutely no exceptions for the provisions. Furlough the employee and remove them from the random testing pool. Then you can conduct the pre-employment drug test of them before returning to the random pool. 

Return-to-Duty Testing

Allow the safety-sensitive employee to return to perform the safety-sensitive practices until the test for return-to-duty gets conducted, and you get the negative result. 

Follow-Up Testing

When follow-up alcohol or drug testing can’t be completed due to employees’ furloughed, their follow-up test plan stops during an extended absence. It restarts once an employee resumes work. This particular plan follows the employees through their breaks in service or to their subsequent employers. 

Ways to Start the Drug and Alcohol Test Program

Mentioned below are the types of certificate holders and what they need to perform to start the testing: 

For a 119 certificate beneficiary with authority for operating under the parts 135 or 121 

You need to obtain the A449 or Anti Drug and Alcohol Misuse Prevention Program Operations Specification by contacting the Principal Operations Inspector of the FAA. Also, learn to get the new FAA-mandated test program and review the program implementation information considering a 119 certificate holder. 

For the operator is denoted in the 14 CFR 91part, § 91.147 

Obtain the LOA or letter of Authorization. It is imperative to contact the local Flight Standards District Office in proximity with the principal section of the business. Also, learn how you should get the brand-new FAA-mandated test program along with all its details. 

For the part 119 holder with authority to operate parts 135 or 121 

You need to complete both the demands mentioned above and advise Flight Standards District Office and Drug Abatement Division that the operation will be included under the 119 testing program. If you want to learn to get the brand-new FAA-mandated test plan, you must review program implementation information or PDF for the 119 certificate holder. 

For the air traffic control capacity that does not get operated by FAA or within the contract to U.S. Military 

You must register with the Drug Abatement Division of the FAA and get the brand new FAA-mandated test plan. Then, review its program implementation information accordingly. 

For the 145 certificate beneficiary conducting their drug or alcohol test 

You need to obtain the A449 or Anti-Drug and Alcohol Misuse Prevention Program Operations Specification by contacting the Principal Maintenance Inspector or registering with the Drug Abatement Division of FAA. 

For the contractor aiming to conduct the own alcohol or drug test 

You need to register with the Drug Abatement Division of the FAA and learn to get the FAA-mandated test program. Upon which, you have to review the PDF or program implementation information for the contractor. 

The Bottom Line

So, this is what you should know about drug testing by the FAA. The FAA’s or Federal Aviation Administration Drug Abatement Division has been issuing guidance to help aviation employers. It aims to maintain and develop the unannounced random drug and alcohol test program to meet the requirements denoted in the fourteen codes of the CRF or Federal Regulations. The alert doesn’t constitute the regulation – instead, it describes the acceptable means and complies with the random alcohol and drug testing needs. Thus, follow the guide mentioned above to conduct the test.