Railways and Transport Safety Act 2003

Part 5Aviation: Alcohol and Drugs

Offences

92Being unfit for duty

(1)A person commits an offence if—

(a)he performs an aviation function at a time when his ability to perform the function is impaired because of drink or drugs, or

(b)he carries out an activity which is ancillary to an aviation function at a time when his ability to perform the function is impaired because of drink or drugs.

(2)In this section “drug” includes any intoxicant other than alcohol.

(3)Section 94 defines “aviation function” and “ancillary activity” for the purposes of this Part.

93Prescribed limit

(1)A person commits an offence if—

(a)he performs an aviation function at a time when the proportion of alcohol in his breath, blood or urine exceeds the prescribed limit, or

(b)he carries out an activity which is ancillary to an aviation function at a time when the proportion of alcohol in his breath, blood or urine exceeds the prescribed limit.

(2)The prescribed limit of alcohol is (subject to subsection (3))—

(a)in the case of breath, 9 microgrammes of alcohol in 100 millilitres,

(b)in the case of blood, 20 milligrammes of alcohol in 100 millilitres, and

(c)in the case of urine, 27 milligrammes of alcohol in 100 millilitres.

(3)In relation to the aviation function specified in section 94(1)(h) the prescribed limit is—

(a)in the case of breath, 35 microgrammes of alcohol in 100 millilitres,

(b)in the case of blood, 80 milligrammes of alcohol in 100 millilitres, and

(c)in the case of urine, 107 milligrammes of alcohol in 100 millilitres.

(4)The Secretary of State may make regulations amending subsection (2) or (3).

(5)Section 94 defines “aviation function” and “ancillary activity” for the purposes of this Part.

94Aviation functions

(1)For the purposes of this Part the following (and only the following) are aviation functions—

(a)acting as a pilot of an aircraft during flight,

(b)acting as flight navigator of an aircraft during flight,

(c)acting as flight engineer of an aircraft during flight,

(d)acting as flight radio-telephony operator of an aircraft during flight,

(e)acting as a member of the cabin crew of an aircraft during flight,

(f)attending the flight deck of an aircraft during flight to give or supervise training, to administer a test, to observe a period of practice or to monitor or record the gaining of experience,

(g)acting as an air traffic controller in pursuance of a licence granted under or by virtue of an enactment (other than a licence granted to a student), and

(h)acting as a licensed aircraft maintenance engineer.

(2)For the purposes of subsection (1)(h) a person acts as a licensed aircraft maintenance engineer if—

(a)he issues a document relating to the maintenance, condition or use of an aircraft or equipment in reliance on a licence granted under or by virtue of an enactment relating to aviation, or

(b)he carries out or supervises work on an aircraft or equipment with a view to, or in connection with, the issue by him of a document of the kind specified in paragraph (a).

(3)For the purposes of this Part a reference to an activity which is ancillary to an aviation function is a reference to anything which falls to be treated as such by virtue of subsections (4) to (6).

(4)An activity shall be treated as ancillary to an aviation function if it is undertaken—

(a)by a person who has reported for a period of duty in respect of the function, and

(b)as a requirement of, for the purpose of or in connection with the performance of the function during that period of duty.

(5)A person who in accordance with the terms of an employment or undertaking holds himself ready to perform an aviation function if called upon shall be treated as carrying out an activity ancillary to the function.

(6)Where a person sets out to perform an aviation function, anything which he does by way of preparing to perform the function shall be treated as an activity ancillary to it.

(7)For the purposes of this Part it is immaterial whether a person performs a function or carries out an activity in the course of an employment or trade or otherwise.

(8)The Secretary of State may by regulations—

(a)amend this section;

(b)make an amendment of this Part which is consequential on an amendment under paragraph (a).

Enforcement

95Penalty

A person guilty of an offence under this Part shall be liable—

(a)on conviction on indictment, to imprisonment for a term not exceeding two years, to a fine or to both, or

(b)on summary conviction, to a fine not exceeding the statutory maximum.

96Specimens, &c.

(1)The provisions specified in the first column of the table below, with the modifications specified in the third column and any other necessary modifications, shall have effect in relation to an offence under this Part.

(2)The Secretary of State may by regulations amend the table in subsection (1) so as—

(a)to add a provision relating to an offence which concerns alcohol or drugs in relation to road traffic;

(b)to add, remove or amend a modification (whether or not in connection with an amendment of a provision specified in the table).

(3)For the purpose of the application by subsection (1) of a provision listed in the table in that subsection—

(a)the provision shall extend to the whole of the United Kingdom, and

(b)a reference to the provision shall be treated, unless the context otherwise requires, as including a reference to the provision as applied.

97Arrest without warrant

(1)A constable may arrest a person without a warrant if the constable reasonably suspects that the person—

(a)is committing an offence under section 92, or

(b)has committed an offence under that section and is still under the influence of drink or drugs.

(2)But a person may not be arrested under this section while he is at a hospital as a patient.

(3)In subsection (2) “hospital” means an institution which provides medical or surgical treatment for in-patients or out-patients.

(4)Arrest under this section shall be treated as arrest for an offence for the purposes of—

(a)Part IV of the Police and Criminal Evidence Act 1984 (c. 60) (detention), and

(b)Part V of the Police and Criminal Evidence (Northern Ireland) Order 1989 (S.I. 1989/1341 (N.I. 12)) (detention).

98Right of entry

(1)A constable in uniform may board an aircraft if he reasonably suspects that he may wish to exercise a power by virtue of section 96 or under section 97 in respect of a person who is or may be on the aircraft.

(2)A constable in uniform may enter any place if he reasonably suspects that he may wish to exercise a power by virtue of section 96 or under section 97 in respect of a person who is or may be in that place.

(3)For the purposes of boarding an aircraft or entering a place under this section a constable—

(a)may use reasonable force;

(b)may be accompanied by one or more persons.

General

99Regulations

(1)Regulations under this Part may—

(a)make transitional, supplemental and incidental provision;

(b)make provision generally or for a specified purpose only;

(c)make different provision for different purposes.

(2)Regulations under this Part—

(a)shall be made by statutory instrument, and

(b)may not be made unless a draft has been laid before and approved by resolution of each House of Parliament.

(3)Before making regulations under section 93 or 94 the Secretary of State shall consult such organisations as he thinks appropriate.

100Crown application

(1)This Part shall apply to a function or activity performed or carried out in relation to an aircraft which belongs to or is employed in the service of the Crown.

(2)This section is subject to section 101.

101Military application

(1)This Part shall not apply to a function or activity which is performed or carried out by a member of Her Majesty’s air forces, military forces or naval forces, within the meaning given by section 225(1) of the Army Act 1955 (c. 18), acting in the course of his duties.

(2)This Part shall not apply to a function or activity which is performed or carried out by—

(a)a member of a visiting force, within the meaning which that expression has in section 3 of the Visiting Forces Act 1952 (c. 67) by virtue of section 12(1) of that Act, acting in the course of his duties, or

(b)a member of a civilian component of a visiting force, within that meaning, acting in the course of his duties.

(3)This Part shall not apply to a function or activity which is performed or carried out by a military or civilian member of a headquarters, within the meaning given by paragraphs 1 and 2 of the Schedule to the International Headquarters and Defence Organisations Act 1964 (c. 5), acting in the course of his duties.

102Territorial application

(1)This Part applies in relation to—

(a)a function or activity performed or carried out in the United Kingdom, and

(b)a flight function performed or flight activity carried out on a United Kingdom aircraft.

(2)In subsection (1)—

• “flight function” means a function falling within section 94(1)(a) to (f),

• “flight activity” means an activity which for the purposes of this Part is ancillary to a flight function, and

• “United Kingdom aircraft” means an aircraft which is registered, in accordance with an enactment about aircraft, in the United Kingdom.

(3)Her Majesty may by Order in Council direct that a provision of this Part shall apply (with or without modification)—

(a)to a function or activity performed or carried out in any of the Channel Islands or a British overseas territory;

(b)to a function performed or activity carried out on an aircraft which is registered, in accordance with an enactment about aircraft, in any of the Channel Islands or a British overseas territory.

(4)Section 98 shall not extend to Scotland.

(5)Subsection (4) does not affect any rule of law or enactment concerning the right of a constable in Scotland to board an aircraft or enter any place for any purpose.