Associations Request Extension To Drug, Alcohol Rule

Eight aviation trade groups, including the National Air Transportation Association, the General Aviation Manufacturers Association and the Regional Airline Association, have asked the FAA to extend the April 10 compliance date of a recent drug and alcohol testing rule. The final rule aims to clarify conflicting guidance issued in the 1990s by making it clear that “safety-sensitive functions performed by persons under subcontract at any tier” are subject to testing. The associations maintain that the FAA has “dramatically” expanded the applicability of drug and alcohol testing rules, but the agency maintains it has merely clarified the existing requirements. According to the associations, the previous regulation mandated testing for contractors, but did not specify subcontractors. The associations want the FAA to extend the effective date of the rule “until six months after the issuance of appropriate guidance by the agency.”