LAC 46:LXX.6509. Alcohol Use

A. No pilot shall consume any alcohol within six hours before, or during, the performance of their piloting duties. Alcohol testing shall be conducted following any incident involving a pilot in the performance of their duties. The board and/or the Board of Directors of NOBRA may also require a pilot to submit to alcohol testing upon reasonable suspicion that a pilot is performing his duties while under the influence of alcohol. Duty, in this case, shall be defined as the time the pilot is dispatched for pilotage services. Testing positive for alcohol while on duty is directly reportable to the board and is not subject to review by a Medical Review Officer. Any pilot who requires medicines, such as cough and cold medications, which may have a small amount of alcohol, should ask their physician or pharmacist to recommend a non-alcoholic medication. While the United States Coast Guard prohibits alcohol use above the level of 0.04 percent BAC, the board reserves the right to take disciplinary action on lower alcohol levels, depending on the facts and circumstances of each particular case. B. Any positive alcohol test shall be reported to the United States Coast Guard and shall place the pilot’s state commission in jeopardy. Any pilot testing positive for alcohol shall be removed from duty pending a hearing. Any pilot with a positive alcohol test shall be subject to disciplinary action. The proper disciplinary action shall be determined on a case by case basis. In addition, the board may require the pilot to undergo evaluation and treatment at a facility pre-approved by the board.