In a significant move towards enhancing aviation safety, India’s aviation regulator, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), announced crucial amendments to the flight duty time limitations (FDTL) on Monday. The revisions include increased rest periods for pilots, a redefinition of night duty, and mandatory fatigue reports from airlines.
Effective immediately, the revised FDTL regulations require airline operators to comply by June 1, as stated in the DGCA’s official statement. Civil aviation minister Jyotiraditya Scindia welcomed the changes, emphasizing their alignment with international best practices. He highlighted the reforms, including heightened rest periods, a refined definition of night duty, and the introduction of regular fatigue reports.
Scindia also revealed plans for transitioning towards a new fatigue management regime – the Fatigue Risk Management System (FRMS). The FRMS aims to employ a data-driven approach to monitor and report flight crew fatigue more effectively, requiring collaboration among various aviation stakeholders.
Among the key amendments, the minimum weekly rest period has been extended from 36 to 48 hours, and the definition of night duty adjusted from 0000-0500 to 0000-0600. The changes intend to ensure adequate rest, aligning with the circadian body clock cycle’s lowest alertness period from 0200-0600.
The revised regulations impose caps on the maximum flight time and flight duty period for night operations at 8 hours and 10 hours, respectively. Additionally, the maximum number of landings during night operations has been reduced to two, down from the previous maximum of six.
DGCA mandates all airlines to submit quarterly fatigue reports, emphasizing a non-punitive and confidential approach. Pilots welcomed the revised norms, viewing them as a positive step towards addressing fatigue-related issues.
The DGCA stated that the revised regulations mark a stepping stone towards the implementation of FRMS in India, signaling a comprehensive and proactive approach to ensuring aviation safety.
