Airlines seek more time for revised flight duty norms

Mumbai/ New Delhi: IndiGo, Air India, SpiceJet and Air India Express have sought more time for the phased implementation of the revised flight duty norms as they flagged increased crew requirements and emphasised the need to put in place fatigue risk management system to monitor fatigue among the pilots.

Sources said the airlines have informed the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) that the norms can be operationalised in a phased manner starting from June 2025 at the earliest.

However, with the implementation horizon still not clear for the norms, which were initially to come into effect from June this year, three pilots’ bodies have told aviation watchdog DGCA to ensure that the new regulations be fully implemented from February 15 at the earliest, the sources said.

By mid-February, fog season, which generally causes flight disruptions due to low visibility conditions, will be ending. The sources also said that pilots’ associations are of the view that the CAR under which norms have been revised is independent of the Fatigue Risk Management System (FRMS) and both should not be clubbed.

The matter of DGCA’s revised Flight Duty Time Limitations (FDTL) is before the Delhi High Court, which is hearing related pleas filed by the Indian Pilots Guild, Indian Commercial Pilots Association and Federation of Indian Pilots.

Following the court directive, a meeting was convened by the regulator on December 18 that saw the participations of representatives from the airlines, pilots’ groupings and the civil aviation ministry.

The differences over the revised norms also come at a time when airlines are expanding their fleets and networks, which will also mean having more pilots, to meet rising air traffic demand. India is one of the world’s fastest growing civil aviation markets.

IndiGo has informed the regulator that the CAR (Civil Aviation Requirements) can be implemented starting from June next year, with weekly rest period for pilots to be increased from 36 hours to 40 hours, the sources said. The impact of the change will be assessed with a view to potentially increase the weekly rest period after June 2025, the airline told the regulator.

Among others, the airline has informed the watchdog that from October 2026, it will restrict night landings for a pilot to a maximum of two during the night period of 12 am to 5 am, subject to certain conditions.

The sources said the IndiGo has told the watchdog that the revised definition of night as 12 am to 6 am will have a severe operational impact and has pitched for retaining the existing time frame of 12 am to 5 am. The sources said IndiGo has also mentioned that the overall impact of implementing the changes would require around 3 per cent increase in crewing requirements.

In their submissions to DGCA, Air India and Air India Express said the CAR can implemented in a phased manner starting from June 2025 to ensure a smooth transition, as per the sources.

They have also told the regulator that new definition of night duty and increased rest periods, among others, will raise practical concerns.