BILL NUMBER:  S7817

 TITLE OF BILL :

An act to amend the general business law, in relation to requiring any
person operating an aircraft to submit to a breathalyzer

 PURPOSE OR GENERAL IDEA OF BILL :

This bill would require all pilots flying into or out of New York
airports to submit to a breathalyzer exam.

 SUMMARY OF SPECIFIC PROVISIONS :

Section 1. Adds a new section to the general business law requiring
breathalyzer exams for pilots.

Section 2. Effective date.

 JUSTIFICATION :

In April 2016, a commercial airline pilot was arraigned in federal
court for exceeding the legal blood alcohol limit for pilots. On the
date in question, the pilot was selected for a random breathalyzer
exam after flying a plane with over 100 passengers and crew from
Orlando to New York. The pilot vastly exceeded the legal limit and was
              

allowed to fly because no mechanism is in place to catch these pilots
before they fly. This measure will improve safety and restore public
confidence in our pilots.

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) currently forbids pilots to
operate an aircraft with a blood alcohol content of .04% or greater,
or operating an aircraft within 8 hours of consuming alcohol.
Currently, the FAA allows companies to implement random breathalyzer
exams, as well as scheduled exams or exams under suspicion. Since
1995, 225 commercial airline pilots have tested above the legal
blood-alcohol limit, according to the FAA.

To ensure the safety of our skies, as well as the numerous passengers
and crew aboard aircraft, this legislation will require all incoming
and outgoing plane pilots using New York airports to take a
breathalyzer exam before boarding the aircraft.

 PRIOR LEGISLATIVE HISTORY :

New bill.

 FISCAL IMPLICATIONS :

To be determined.

 EFFECTIVE DATE :
Immediately.