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Midazolam
Part of group: Controlled substance — benzodiazepine
SACAA Part 67 assessment
Not acceptable / incompatible with flying duties
Active ingredient(s)
8 in groupControlled substance — benzodiazepine
Typical grounding period: 72 hours (3 days)
Measured from the last dose, and only once completely side-effect free.
Guidance notes
Every benzodiazepine is disqualifying for flying duty. Subtle impairment of memory, judgement and reaction time outlasts the felt sedation, and long-acting agents accumulate. Minimum 72 hours grounding after a single dose of a short-acting agent, considerably longer for long-acting agents, and the underlying anxiety or insomnia must be assessed by a DAME.
Category rules that also apply
Controlled / narcotic substance — absolute prohibition
Narcotics, opioids, sedatives of dependence and stimulants of abuse (Schedule 5 and 6 medicines, and all illicit substances) are incompatible with aviation duty. No flying, air traffic control or cabin crew duty while the substance is being used, and return to duty requires formal DAME assessment of the medicine, the underlying condition and any dependence risk — not simply a washout period. These substances also trigger positive results on SACAA and operator substance screening, which carries licensing consequences separate from the medical assessment. Never combine them with alcohol.
Known SA brand names
Our DAME partners
Dr Berlize du Plessis
Senior DAME · MS213
Kenridge, Cape Town
Dr Brandon Head
Senior DAME · MS229
Sunninghill, Sandton
Dr Ernest Schutz
Senior DAME · MS028
Germiston
Dr Mariska van Tonder
Senior DAME · MS222
Somerset West
Dr Richard Albrecht
Senior DAME · MS074
Strubensvalley, Roodepoort
Dr. Schalk Reyneke
Senior DAME · MS123
Honeydew, Roodepoort
Possible acceptable alternatives (same therapeutic group)
Alternatives are informational only. The underlying medical condition must also be assessed by a DAME — a condition can ground you even when the medicine is acceptable.