US: Aviation groups oppose proposed FAA pilot drug testing study

Nine groups representing commercial and general aviation are calling on FAA not to follow through with a proposed pilot drug testing study, saying “deceptively and unknowingly” testing thousands of pilot urine samples does not comply with legal requirements and would “further erode the trust” between the pilot community and FAA aviation medical examiners. The proposed study was developed in response to guidance from a NTSB recommendation that FAA conduct a study to evaluate the prevalence of over-the-counter, prescription and illicit drug use among pilots and compare the results with findings from a previous NTSB study of pilots who died in aviation accidents. The aviation groups said the FAA study “is flawed and will not accomplish its goals.” <br/>