The Airline Pilots Association wants new random drug and drink monitoring of commercial captains extended to all pilots.
The Civil Aviation Authority is to carry out the checks, using the Ministry of Justice database to look for criminal convictions.
Association executive director Rick Mirkin says commercial pilots use the same airspace as private pilots, so it's hard to understand why random checks will be limited.
Air New Zealand supports the association's call, but the Government says commercial captains carry more passengers, so they are the priority when it comes to public safety.
