Source – This post on Problems faced by Indian pilots has been created based on the article “Indian aviation, a case of air safety at a discount” published in “The Hindu” on 8 April 2024.
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Context – The government has introduced revised “FDTL Regulations” [Flight Duty Time Limitations] that had be implemented from June 1, 2024. However, airline owners did not welcome this decision and the DGCA had to defer the June 1 deadline indefinitely.
What were the provisions in the revised FDTL Regulations?
1) It included increased rest periods for pilots.
2) It had redefined the night duty of pilots.
3) It mandated the sharing of regular fatigue reports by airlines.
Why was it being opposed by the airline owners?
Airline owner contended that they would need additional crew to meet the requirements of revised FDTL Regulations. This may result in curtailing the number of flights.
What is Fatigue Risk Management System (FRMS)?
1) Introduction-International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) has introduced the Fatigue Risk Management System (FRMS) as a mandatory requirement.
2) Reasons for introduction–
A) The study of accidents and serious incidents linked to fatigue has highlighted sleep deprivation and slowed reaction times as significant causes.
B) Countries like Japan, Singapore, and the United Kingdom emphasize fatigue management and rest periods for flight crews. They implement a system where pilots receive two days off each week to reset their body clocks and recover from accumulated fatigue.
Read more- On Regulations on Flight Duty Time Limitations (FDTL) – The right flight path
What are the problems faced by pilots in India?
1) Neglect of human factor-Airline schedules often overlook the human factor. While the DGCA sets limits, it doesn’t mean that airlines can’t implement systems that have fewer flight and duty hours for pilots.
2) Financial strain – young pilots invest about Rs 1 crore rupees to obtain their license to fly, and they must pay monthly instalments towards the loan. In the backdrop of this, when Tatas gave an ultimatum to sign their new pay structure contract by the end of the day to copilots,they were subjected to tremendous financial stress because signing the contract would have led to 50 % reduction in their salaries.
What are some possible solutions?
1) Addressing pilot shortage
A) India can adopt the ICAO Annex 1 Standard, which allows recognition of licenses from other ICAO member states. This means Indian licenses could be issued based solely on an Air Law exam and a Class I medical. Many qualified Indian captains working who are working abroad may return to India after this change.
B) The DGCA can allow retired pilots from abroad to conduct mandatory checks on Indian pilots. Retired pilots can also be used for simulator training. This approach would free up many trained pilots for active flying duties.
Question for practice
How can delay in the implementation of revised FDTL Regulations threaten the rights of Indian pilots and endanger the safety of Indian passengers?
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