The aviation industry says it is frustrated that mandatory drug and alcohol testing in safety sensitive aviation workplaces has not yet been introduced.
"We accept that education is an integral part of enhancing safety but we can only do so much. Without the ability to test all working in safety sensitive roles, it can be difficult to detect the presence of these substances - for this reason alone regulation is essential," said Irene King, chief executive of Aviation New Zealand.
"We advocate testing of all involved in safety sensitive roles - this includes the many owner operators, contractors, their executives and staff, irrespective of whether they are directly involved in day-to-day operations".
Mandatory random alcohol and drug testing provided transparent assurance to the public that all sectors of aviation operated at the same zero tolerance level.
The travelling public, including New Zealand's valuable tourism industry, had the right to expect that exemplary safety standards would be delivered and there would be accountability, Ms King said.
"Regrettably, despite our best efforts over a very long period, we have been unable to move all providers to the same standard - legislation is now the only alternative to assure substance abuse is not tolerated in the industry."
Prime Minister John Key, also the Minister of Tourism, raised the possibility of mandatory random drug and alcohol testing in the adventure tourism sector following the Carterton ballooning tragedy and a skydiving plane crash at Fox Glacier in 2010 which killed nine people.
Two skydive masters on the plane were found to have cannabis in their systems, although this did not contribute to the crash, according to the coroner. - APNZ