An Overview about FAA and Drug Testing

Posted by SharonEvans on September 21st, 2012

The Federal Aviation Administration, or FAA, is the branch of government that deals with all American pilots and airplanes. Considering the nature of the job, and the fact it is part of the DOT, most airlines have an FAA drug testing program in place to keeps pilots and people safe. Drug testing is very important when it comes to flying airplanes.

Some drugs can actually affect the vision and perception of the individual that uses that drug, which is obviously very bad for a pilot who is relying on his vision to be able to see the sky in front of him as well as all the instruments and radar of a plane. The pilots who fly the giant airplanes, such as a Boeing 747, for air transport of people are classified as an Airline Transport Pilot. This is the highest level of pilot license that one can obtain.

Pilots of all types have to submit to drug testing, due to the Omnibus Transport Act of 1991 that requires all who fall under the DOT to be tested for at least five different drugs as well as alcohol testing. As the DOT is part of the federal government, it is important to note that the dispensing of medical marijuana occurs at the state level and is illegal by federal standards. Airlines with an FAA drug testing program have everything set up for urine or hair samples to be collected from the pilots and sent to drug testing facilities. The hair samples are actually the hair follicle, which rests below the scalp and cannot be tampered with. Urine samples are a little easier to tamper with, but there are also many ways to tell when someone has tried to flush their system, taken another substance to try to mask any drugs, or if they even went so far as to use another person’s urine.

Certain drugs may test positive because of certain prescription medications. Opiates and amphetamines occur in medication rather frequently. It is because of this problem that drug testing facilities will often call in a Medical Review Officer, or MRO. An MRO is a certified doctor who will talk with the individual, talk to their doctor, and get all proper evidence that a positive result has been caused by medication. If it is not possible to prove this, then the results will be forwarded without any changes.

The five drugs that an FAA drug testing program will test for, as per DOT regulations, are PCP, cocaine, opiates, marijuana, and amphetamines. Methamphetamine is different from amphetamine, because meth will actually be broken down into amphetamine by the human body. Thus, drug testing for amphetamines will show if they have been using either substance. Heroin falls into the category of opiates. The DOT is responsible for basically every single life in the United States, as everyone must use or bear near some form of transportation.

Visit us to learn more about the drug testing process and to get an approved and FAA drug testing program implemented into your business.