DGCA Maintains June 1 Deadline For Airlines To Implement Revised Flight Duty Norms

The aviation regulatory informed that the airlines must provide the revised schemes by April 15 and put the new flight duty rules in place by June 1, 2024

The new rules include a rise in weekly rest time for pilots to 48 hours and restrict the number of landings to two during night operations

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The Directorate General Of Civil Aviation (DGCA) said that it will not provide an extension for the implementation of the revised flight duty norms for pilots. The aviation regulatory informed that the airlines must provide the revised schemes by April 15 and put the new flight duty rules in place by June 1, 2024. 

The regulator issued a communication to the FIA (Federation of Indian Airlines) and said that airlines are required to take all needed measures to implement the revised FDTL CAR, effective from June 1, 2024. Notably, the FIA, including Air India, SpiceJet, and IndiGo, sought more time from the regulator for rolling out the new norms, that were issued on January 8, 2024, reported PTI.

The Flight Duty Time Limitations (FDTL) rules call for more rest time for the pilots and aim to eliminate pilot fatigue. The new rules include a rise in weekly rest time for pilots to 48 hours and restrict the number of landings to two during night operations. It also increases the night duty hours for pilots by one hour to 0000-0600 hours from the earlier 0000-0500 hours. 

 The DGCA also asked all airlines to ensure that the FDTL schemes in line with the revised rules are submitted to seek approval by April 15, 2024. All the carriers will be required to provide quarterly fatigue reports, which will follow a non-punitive and confidentiality policy.

The aviation regulator noted, “The CAR (Civil Aviation Requirement) provisions may appear either restrictive or liberal, depending on its direct impact on the viewing entity, and differing perceptions may be formed, when viewed from the eyes of either the airline operators or the pilots.While perceptions may vary, DGCA is primarily concerned in ensuring safe operations and practices that are best suited to the unique operating environment prevailing in India.”

The authority explained that the timeline for implementing the revised norms was decided after considering the lead time required by the operators to roll out the needed changes in management, such as recruiting crew, training, and other logistical setup. The aviation body emphasised that reducing flight crew fatigue remained the core focus behind the changed norms. 

“The unfortunate instances of pilot deaths in the recent past ostensibly due to punishing roster schedules and consequent cumulative attendant impact on flight crew health and wellbeing is an urgent wake-up call to address these issues without further delay,” the DGCA added.