YOGYAKARTA - To observe health and drug use, pilots and co-pilots must go through urine test. The Provincial National Narcotics Agency (Badan Narkotika Nasional Propinsi /BNNP) of Yogyakarta held such event at Adisutjipto Yogyakarta International Airport. This was also done as a precaution to avoid human-error accidents, because during mudik (hometown travel) and its backflow, many pilots and co-pilots flow more than their usual daily schedule.
In doing the test, BNNP used urine-test instruments which can detect six types of drugs, such as methamphetamine (sabu-sabu), ecstasy, heroin, cocaine, weed and illegal drugs on G-list. "This is done to save passengers; we don’t want pilots and co-pilots being indicated of using narcotics or other illegal drugs. We test all pilots from all airlines," said Siti Alfiah, Chief of Eradication Unit of BNNP DIY.
The test will show the level of illegal drug contained in the body of a pilot. This test, according to Siti, is very important to avoid any error during a flight. Siti explained, when a pilot or co-pilot is indicated of using drugs, he/she would join a rehabilitation program. "If being indicated of using drugs, we will rehabilitate the pilot/co-pilot. This affects the passengers; when a pilot who uses drugs and fantasizes on air, this could be dangerous. We don’t want any of our pilot uses narcotics. That’s why we do urine test," Siti explained further.
Urine test which was done at Adisutjipto International Airport was the last one done by BNNP DIY during mudik and mudik backflow of Lebaran 2014. Prior to that, the agency has tested all bus drivers at several bus terminals in Yogyakarta, such as Giwangan, Jombor and Wates terminals.
"We have also done urine tests at Giwangan and Wates terminals, and now at Angkasa Pura Airports Adisutjipto International Airport Branch. We found one bus driver at Giwangan Terminal who uses doctor’s prescription. However until this afternoon, we haven’t found any Angkasa Pura pilot with illegal use of drugs," said Siti. (Pardika Dewi RS/ Source: Liputan6.com)
