The Delhi High Court has refused to stay the order of civil aviation ministry which had extended flight duty time limitation (FDTL) of Air India pilots and cabin crew, inviting opposition. Agreeing with the submission of Air India about the present difficult times for the airlines, Justice Suresh Kait said, ‘Since the respondent Airlines is going through crucial financial crisis, in such a situation it becomes the duty of each and every person, who is part and parcel of the institution to work as per the established industry practices to enable the respondent Airlines to pull through from its present position.’
The court said it is not inclined to stay the operation of impugned order. It also said that Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) and other authorities have power to increase the FDTL as per the civil aviation requirements (CAR).
Sheela Joshi and others, in their petition, said Air India could not pass such orders as it will impact their health and affect safety of the passengers. They had alleged that the civil aviation minister and the DGCA arbitrarily changed the FDTL, which were governed by the air craft rules along with the memorandum of settlement agreed on 1, October, 2008.
As per DGCA guidelines, the FDTL and the Flight Time Limitation (FTL), which deals with actual time spent in a flying aircraft, are 11 and nine hours respectively. As per earlier agreement between the Union and the Airlines, FDTL and FTL had been pegged at 9.5 and 6.5 hours respectively.
The court said it is not inclined to stay the operation of impugned order. It also said that Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) and other authorities have power to increase the FDTL as per the civil aviation requirements (CAR).
Sheela Joshi and others, in their petition, said Air India could not pass such orders as it will impact their health and affect safety of the passengers. They had alleged that the civil aviation minister and the DGCA arbitrarily changed the FDTL, which were governed by the air craft rules along with the memorandum of settlement agreed on 1, October, 2008.
As per DGCA guidelines, the FDTL and the Flight Time Limitation (FTL), which deals with actual time spent in a flying aircraft, are 11 and nine hours respectively. As per earlier agreement between the Union and the Airlines, FDTL and FTL had been pegged at 9.5 and 6.5 hours respectively.