European private aircraft owners with business interests in the US were this month studying tighter drugs test guidelines issued by the US Federal Aviation Administration.

The FAA has adopted a 2004 notice of proposed rulemaking amending airman medical standards. A refusal to submit to a required drug or alcohol test will carry the same penalty as failure of a test revocation or disqualification from holding an airman medical certificate.

The same penalty awaits a pilot with an alcohol result of 0.04 or greater.

The FAA also proposes to standardise the time period for re-porting refusals and some test results. The rules also require employers to report pre-employment and return-to-duty test refusals. It also amends the airman medical certification requirements to allow suspension or revocation of airman medical certificates for pre-employment and return-to-duty test refusals.

The new rules go into effect on July 21. Scheduled and unscheduled drug and alcohol testing is required for pilots operating under Part 135 or 121.