ARO.RAMP.106 Alcohol testing

GENERAL — ALCOHOL TESTING METHODOLOGY

(a)If alcohol testing is carried out by RAMP inspectors under the RAMP inspection programme, the following alcohol testing methodology should be used to ensure accurate testing results.

(1)The alcohol test should be carried out with an appropriate and approved testing device in accordance with national requirements on alcohol testing of individuals.

(2)The ramp inspector that carries out the alcohol test should be adequately trained and qualified.

(3)After an initial positive alcohol test, a further confirmation test should be carried out in accordance with national requirements on alcohol testing of individuals.

(4)Testing procedures should specify the following:

(1)Handling of test results, in order to determine a true positive test

(2)The process to be followed in case of a confirmed positive test result, including how to inform the crew member concerned about the actual testing result

(b)Initial alcohol test

(1)The initial alcohol test should be carried out using a breath alcohol analyser to ensure that initial alcohol testing is non-invasive.

(2)The breath alcohol concentration (BrAC), measured by a breath alcohol analyser during the initial alcohol test, should not exceed a level equivalent to 0.2 grams of blood alcohol concentration (BAC) per litre of blood or the lower of the national statutory limits, whichever is the lower.

(c)During a confirmation alcohol test, the BAC should not exceed a level equivalent to 0.2 grams per litre of blood or the lower of the national statutory limits, whichever is the lower.

(d)In case of a positive alcohol test following a confirmation alcohol test or in case of a refusal by the crew member to cooperate during an alcohol test, the competent authority should inform the crew member concerned, as well as the competent authority and the authority responsible for the crew concerned.

(e)A refusal by a crew member to cooperate during an alcohol test should be regarded in the same way as a positive test and as such should be regarded as a refusal to grant access in accordance with ORO.GEN.140 in the case of an EU operator or in accordance with TCO.115 of Commission Regulation (EU) No 452/2014 in the case of a third-country operator.

(f)The competent authority should provide information on its alcohol testing procedures in an easily accessible format.

CONDUCT OF THE ALCOHOL TEST

(a)An alcohol test may be carried out at any time during a ramp inspection.

(b)In order to ensure sufficient time in case of a confirmation test, following an initial test, the alcohol test should, where possible, be carried out at the start of the inspection.

(c)At all times when carrying out an alcohol test, the inspector should ensure a testing environment as discreet as possible.

GUIDANCE ON CARRYING OUT A CONFIRMATION ALCOHOL TEST

(a)The written information after a positive confirmation test provided to the crew member concerned contains information on the time and date of the alcohol test, the equipment used, as well as the actual result of the alcohol test.

(b)A further confirmation test may be carried out at least 15 minutes, but not more than 30 minutes, after the completion of the initial test. During this time, the inspector should observe that the flight and cabin crew member does not eat or drink or ingest something into their mouth, in order to prevent any accumulation of alcohol in the mouth from leading to an artificially high reading.

INFORMATION ON ALCOHOL TESTING The information by the competent authority on its alcohol testing procedures should include information on the applicable national statutory limit.