Stricter drink limit for pilots

The limit will apply to pilots on UK-registered aircraft worldwide

Airline pilots are expected to get a tough legal alcohol limit this week - four times stricter than for motorists.

Pilots, air traffic controllers and cabin crew will be allowed no more than 20mg of alcohol in 100ml of blood.

The announcement by the Department for Transport (DfT) will apply to all aircraft in UK airspace and UK-registered aircraft worldwide.

Airlines already have strict alcohol rules, although a few pilots have made recent headlines for excess drinking.

Police tests

The DfT is also expected to announce an 80mg limit for professional mariners, the same as the current limit for road users.

Police will be able to test aviation workers and mariners if they suspect they are over the limit, but will not have the power to test at random.

It is hoped the new limit and police testing powers will eventually also be applied to recreational mariners, after consultation over details.

The announcement forms part of the Railways and Transport Safety Act, which was given Royal Assent last July.