Flight from fatigue: On the DGCA and flight duty time limitation norms

Context: The revised Civil Aviation Requirements (CAR) by Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA)

• The DGCA has allowed airlines to operate under older regulations until their new schemes are approved.
• Earlier in January DGCA updated flight duty time limitations (FDTL) to address fatigue issues in the aviation industry.
• These changes included more rest time for pilots, redefining night duty, and requiring airlines to report fatigue regularly.

Reasons behind postponement:

• Indian airlines federation sought postponement of new rules, citing potential need for more pilots and up to 20% flight cancellations.

Concerns:

• DGCA’s decision to relax regulations could perpetuate pilot fatigue.
• Indian aviation market, amidst pilot shortage, experiences high growth, leading to stress on flight crews.
• Ultra-long-haul flights, including more wide body aircraft, contribute to crew stress.

The way ahead:

DGCA must enforce regulatory norms aligned with top safety standards for the well-being of flight crews and passengers.

Source: The Hindu