TOKYO, June 13 (Xinhua) -- Japan's parliament on Thursday enacted a revised aviation law that includes harsher punishments for pilots who are found to have flown planes under the influence of alcohol or drugs.
The new legislation follows a spate of high-profile cases involving Japanese pilots and copilots being caught having flown aircraft while intoxicated, failing breathalyzer tests, as well as being unable to show up for work due to the effects of alcohol.
The revised aviation law, to come into effect within a year of it being officially announced, has increased the penalty for flying under the influence of alcohol from imprisonment of a maximum of one-year and fine of 300,000 yen (2,766 U.S. dollars) fine to a prison term of up to three years and a fine of 500,000 yen (4,610 U.S. dollars).
Amid rising instances of pilots and copilots flying planes while intoxicated, mandatory breathalyzer tests have been introduced by Japanese carriers, and pilots are subjected to stricter punishments from the airlines they work for, even in cases where very low levels of alcohol are detected.
The new legislation also requires plane manufacturers to compulsory report malfunctions to the government and empowers the state to take increased steps against the misuse of drones.
The government, under the new law, in cases where the operators of drones have caused accidents, will be able to search the offenders' offices or homes.
In addition, those operating drones will not be allowed to do so under the influence of alcohol and will be prohibited from flying the small aircraft in ways that may inconvenience or disturb others.
