Alcohol, drugs & cannabis
Must not act as a crew member in any of 3 situations (CAR 602.03). Each stands alone:
| Substance | Basis | Test |
|---|---|---|
| Alcohol | Timed | Within 12 hours after consuming an alcoholic beverage |
| Alcohol | State | While under the influence of alcohol; still grounded past 12 hours |
| Drug | Impairment | Any drug impairing faculties enough to endanger aircraft or persons on board |
- 12-hour clock: alcohol only.
- Drug test: impairment, not time, legal limit, or legal/prescribed status.
Alcohol margins:
| Source | Rule |
|---|---|
| CAR 602.03 | 12 hours minimum, not a safe margin |
| TC AIM AIR 3.9 | Recommends at least 24 hours between last drink and take-off |
| TC AIM RPA 3.2.7 (IMSAFE) | Time question, not feel check: any alcohol within previous 12 hours? |
Alcohol problems (TC AIM AIR 3.9):
- Excessive drinking or alcohol problems: stop flying, seek assistance.
- Path back to flying: completed treatment and ongoing monitoring, not a fixed wait time.
- Early intervention gives best long-term outcome.
Cannabis (TC AIM AIR 3.10): TC policy is separate from, and stricter than, the CAR 602.03 drug rule.
| Dimension | Cannabis policy | CAR 602.03 drug clause |
|---|---|---|
| Test | Fixed period: abstain at least 28 days before reporting for duty | Impairment alone, no set time |
| Who | All pilots, flight engineers, air traffic controllers | Crew members |
- "Cannabis use": any cannabis product, including CBD; any method (smoking, vaping, eating, applying to skin); any purpose (medical or recreational).
- Policy also requires:
- no impairment
- no diagnosed substance use disorder
- no pattern of problematic substance use likely to affect aviation safety
- Legality: legal in Canada, recreational and medical (Cannabis Act). Does not shorten or remove the 28 days.
Trap: 12 hours, not 8 (8 h is the ATC alcohol limit, CAR 801.01(a)); 24 h is only the AIM margin. Cannabis is 28 days, not 12 or 24 hours; legal, medically authorized, or CBD-only products are not exempt.
References
- CARs 602.03
- TC AIM AIR 3.9
- TC AIM AIR 3.10
- TC AIM RPA 3.2.7