Japan places numerical limits on pilots’ alcohol levels

January 31, 2019

Tokyo--Japan's transport ministry on Thursday started applying numerical criteria on airline pilots' alcohol levels.

The move follows a string of cases in which passenger flights operated by Japanese airlines were delayed due to pilots' drinking.

Under the new rules, the preflight breath alcohol threshold is set at under 0.09 milligram per liter, while the blood alcohol limit is set at below 0.2 gram per liter.

Japanese airlines are given until March 31 to start mandatory alcohol tests for their pilots before and after flights.

Pilots are prohibited from performing their duties if alcohol is detected in the tests. Airlines are required to record test results. Third-party monitoring of the tests is required.

Airlines are also obliged to educate their staff on the dangers of alcohol. Jiji Press