The Malaysia Aviation Skills Standard Association (MASSA) has called for greater emphasis on education, professional awareness and prevention as Malaysia strengthens measures to address fitness-for-duty and alcohol and drug misuse in the aviation industry.
The call comes after the Civil Aviation Authority of Malaysia (CAAM) issued Safety Directive SD 02/2026 on 7 August, reinforcing safeguards related to fitness for duty and the prevention of alcohol and drug misuse among aviation personnel.
MASSA welcomed the directive, saying regulatory oversight and testing remain important in maintaining aviation safety.
However, the association said testing alone cannot address every risk facing the industry.
“Testing detects risk. Education helps prevent risk,” said MASSA President Dr Nur Zairahtul Amirah Kamallazim.
PHOTO CREDIT: ATTIQAH MOHD
She said fitness for duty should not be treated simply as a compliance requirement or testing exercise, but as part of the professional culture of aviation personnel.
Pilots and cabin crew work in safety-sensitive roles where individual decisions can have consequences for passengers, colleagues and the wider operation.
Dr Nur Zairahtul said continuous education should therefore form part of the industry’s approach to fitness for duty.
This includes awareness of professional responsibilities, aviation ethics, human performance, occupational risks, reporting procedures and peer-support mechanisms.
Building A Stronger Safety Culture
MASSA said CAAM’s Civil Aviation Directive 6007 on the Operator Alcohol and Drug Testing Programme already provides a structured approach to managing alcohol and drug-related risks through measures including education, intervention, rehabilitation and peer support.
The association said these measures show why prevention and education should work alongside regulatory enforcement.
Dr Nur Zairahtul also stressed the importance of avoiding generalisations about Malaysia’s aviation workforce.
Malaysia has a large community of pilots and cabin crew who carry out safety-critical duties with professionalism and discipline, she said.
“The actions of an individual should not define an entire profession,” MASSA said.
Instead, recent developments should be used as an opportunity to strengthen professional standards across the industry.
For MASSA, a strong safety culture means aviation professionals understand their responsibilities, organisations maintain effective safeguards and employees know where to seek help when they need it.
Potential risks should also be identified and addressed before they develop into safety incidents.
Moving Beyond Compliance
MASSA said the industry should now look at how regulators, airlines, training organisations, aviation bodies and government stakeholders can work together to strengthen prevention.
Among the areas highlighted are fitness-for-duty awareness, professional responsibility, aviation ethics, human factors, alcohol and drug management requirements, reporting and referral procedures, peer support and continuous professional development.
The association stressed that these initiatives should complement, rather than replace, the regulatory role of CAAM and the operational responsibilities of individual airline operators.
As an aviation skills and professional competency organisation, MASSA said it is prepared to engage with CAAM, airlines and other stakeholders on education and competency initiatives that can support Malaysia’s aviation safety objectives.
Dr Nur Zairahtul said the industry should look beyond responding to individual incidents and focus on strengthening systems that can help prevent future risks.
“Aviation safety is not built through enforcement alone. It is built through competency, professional responsibility, continuous education and a culture where every aviation professional understands that safety begins with the individual.”
This is an original article and photograph written and taken by Attiqah Mohd following an interview with the MASSA President.This work is the intellectual property of the author and must not be copied, reproduced or republished without prior permission and proper attribution.
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