Policy Improvements for Prevention of Alcohol Misuse by Airline Pilots

Abstract

Alcohol abuse by airline pilots poses a potential danger to the safety and welfare of the flying public. This paper analyzes two strategies for reducing pilot-error aviation accidents: conducting background checks on pilots for driving-while-intoxicated (DWI) convictions and random preflight alcohol testing of airline pilots. Although both policies have been implemented, no empirical research had previously been conducted to justify either strategy. The results and conclusions of this study are based on analysis of data obtained from the Federal Aviation Administration on the flying performance of 70 164 airline pilots. DWI convictions were found to be associated with a significantly greater risk of a pilot-error accident. In contrast, no evidence was found to validate the assumption that a random alcohol testing program could have prevented accidents. The results provide support for improving the existing DWI background check program and for reducing the sampling rate of random alcohol testing for airline pilots. This twofold strategy could result in greater improvements in aviation safety and reduced overall costs.

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KatWeen L. McFadden is an assistant professor of operations management at Northern Illinois University. In 1993, she received her Ph.D. in business administration with an emphasis in management science from the University of Texas at Arlington.