The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) on March 23, 2026, issued a public notice initiating the empanelment process for breath-analyzer (BA) equipment and related calibration agencies to be used in the civil aviation sector. This move aims to standardize equipment quality, enhance operational reliability, and ensure strict adherence to safety norms prescribed under CAR Section 5, Series F, Part III and Part IV, which govern alcohol testing of aviation personnel such as pilots and crew.
Under this initiative, manufacturers of breath-analyzer devices as well as agencies engaged in calibration of such equipment have been invited to submit proposals for empanelment. The applicants are required to furnish comprehensive details including the name of the manufacturer/agency, technical specifications of the equipment, and a formal statement confirming compliance with DGCA’s regulatory requirements. In addition, detailed company credentials must be provided, covering infrastructure and technical capabilities, calibration methodology and frequency, relevant accreditations (such as ISO certifications), and prior experience in manufacturing or calibration of breath-analyzer equipment.
The DGCA has specified that proposals must be submitted within 30 days from the date of publication of the notice, either via email or through registered post to the designated authority at DGCA headquarters in New Delhi. Post submission, the equipment and agencies will undergo evaluation based on defined technical and regulatory benchmarks. This includes possible inspection of facilities to verify claims and capabilities.
Only those applicants whose equipment meets the prescribed standards and who have no history of non-compliance or procedural deficiencies will be considered for empanelment. This step is expected to strengthen aviation safety oversight by ensuring that only reliable and compliant breath-analyzer systems are deployed for mandatory alcohol testing in the aviation ecosystem.
[File No: DGCA-15011(01)/15/2025-DAS]
