This policy was included for review at the Marrakech 2000 conference.

This policy is contained at Page 4221 paragraph 2.1.1. and is as follows:

The reason for review is that in some countries aviation medical officers are hesitant to publish a definitive list of acceptable and not-acceptable medications for operational personnel. There is a concern on their part that such a list would be incomplete because new drugs are always being introduced. Some drugs also affect some persons more that others. For these reasons, the regulator may not wish to publish the information mentioned in the above policy.

This policy was derived from WP58 in Lyon 1976. This paper included the results of a survey of MA’s (Only 16 out of 42 replied – nothing changed there in 24 years!) and study of FAA and UK CAA guidelines.

SC4 were unable to find one example of an MA in whose country a list of individual substances had been published.

Dr. James Wallace from Transport Canada attended the Marrakech conference and reinforced the perception that medical authorities would be unwilling to attempt to publish such a list.

SC4 note that the policy does not necessarily ask for individually named substances but rather asks “administrations to establish a list of the most common groups of drugs and medicines available in their country…” (SC4 has underlined the word “groups”.) While the policy may have been interpreted to mean individually named substances, it seems that such a list is not a practical proposition. However SC4 believes that the words “where possible” should be included in case a national administration feels competent to add such a list. SC4 also wishes to add the words “other substances” in order to enlarge the scope of the advice to controllers.

SC4 believe that ATS administrations should give clear guidelines to ATC staff concerning the use of generic groups of substances. This should be associated with policies allowing ATC staff extra time off work that may not be available to staff in less critical work areas.

SC4 also believes that individual controllers have a responsibility to monitor their own fitness for duty and should exercise their own judgement if a medical opinion cannot be obtained. Again such responsibility should be recognised by the employer and time off allowed for recovery.

MA’s have interpreted the policy to mean that individual substances should be named, SC4 find this not to be the case, and recommend inclusion of this in the policy.

SC4 note that medicines, drugs and alcohol may not necessarily be the only substances that can effect controllers, so recommend inclusion of the words, other substances.

SC4 believe individual controllers are also responsible for their fitness for duty and the employer should provide additional time off to accommodate ATC specific problems.

The policy at Page 4221 Para 2.1.1. be amended to read:

“Policy on the Effects of Medicines, Drugs and Alcohol

Member Associations should approach their respective administrations to establish guidelines for the use of medicines, drugs, alcohol and other substances available in their country.

Where possible individual substances within the groups, including trade names, should be identified and listed in order to give controllers guidance concerning the use of such substances and their compatibility with ATC work.

Controllers should be allocated time off in excess of national standards in recognition of the critical nature of their health in relation to their work.”

IFATCA Manual.

IFATCA Professional Manual.

Civil ATS Operations Administration Manual – Australia.

Civil Aviation Regulations – Australia.