Indian aviation watchdog defers new rules on pilots' rest, duty times

Announced in January, the rules increased flight crews' weekly rest periods to 48 hours from 36 and cut pilots' night flight duty times to a maximum of 10 hours from 13. In Tuesday's revised website notice, however, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) allowed airlines to retain the older norms for the time being.

India's aviation watchdog has deferred a June 1 deadline for airlines to adopt new rules on rest and duty times for pilots, a notice on its website showed, without stating a reason or a new target date. Announced in January, the rules increased flight crews' weekly rest periods to 48 hours from 36 and cut pilots' night flight duty times to a maximum of 10 hours from 13.

In Tuesday's revised website notice, however, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) allowed airlines to retain the older norms for the time being. The changes followed a review of data on pilot fatigue drawn from spot checks and airline surveillance after an IndiGo pilot collapsed and died in August before his flight.

Also Read: 'Proof of India's technological ability': Ex-DRDO scientist Ravi Gupta hails first flight test of Agni-5 missile