On Regulations on Flight Duty Time Limitations (FDTL) – The right flight path

Source: This post on New Flight Regulations has been created based on the article “The right flight path – DGCA aligns Indian rules with global norms” published in “Indian Express” on 10^th January 2024.

UPSC Syllabus Topic: GS Paper 3 Indian Economy – Infrastructure: Airports.

News: The article discusses the recent changes in DGCA’s new norms regarding flight duty time limitations. It highlights the various provisions and the issues that may arise due to their implementation.

The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) recently mandated new regulations on flight duty time limitations (FDTL) for all airlines with effect from June 1.

What are the new norms?

These involve the following provisions:

1. Longer rest periods (Now weekly rest periods have been increased to 48 hours from 36).
2. Shorter night duty hours.
3. Less landings (Night landings will be limited to 2 against the 6 earlier).
4. Mandated quarterly “fatigue reports” by airlines.

Why were they needed?

1. Increasing Workload: India is one of the world’s fastest- growing aviation markets and the country’s major airports are becoming dangerously congested.
2. Pilot Fatigue: Due to an ultra-competitive and low-margin business, pilots claim that most airlines ignore their complaints of fatigue. The new rules will prevent this problem from becoming a safety crisis.
3. Poor Regulation: India has one of the world’s poorest records in terms of FDTL regulations. The new norms are now more closely aligned with global standards.
4. Lack of Pilot’s Union to Articulate Demands: Except for formerly government-owned Air India, no airline has a pilot’s union to negotiate these issues with managements.

What are the issues that may arise due to these regulations?

1. Raise Costs for Airline Companies: The new norms will require the hiring of more pilots. Given the pilot shortage, it will significantly raise costs.
2. Issues with Fatigue reports: Most pilots are reluctant to file such reports due to the risk of being deprived of flying allowances, which account for large chunks of their earnings.

Question for practice:

India is one of the world’s fastest- growing aviation markets. This has necessitated reforms regarding flight duty time limitations, so pilots can function in the right manner. Analyse DGCA’s steps in this regard.