Pilots Push for Implementation of Revised Flight Duty Norms Amid Rising Fatigue Concerns

The Federation of Indian Pilots (FIP) is urging the civil aviation ministry to implement revised flight duty and rest period norms immediately. Despite being postponed by the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) in March, the FIP insists that lack of such norms endangers both pilot and passenger safety.

Raising concerns about pilot fatigue, pilots' grouping FIP has urged the civil aviation ministry to take steps for implementation of revised norms on flight duty and rest period at the earliest.

The Federation of Indian Pilots (FIP), which has more than 6,000 members, had earlier also written to the civil aviation ministry on the revised CAR (Civil Aviation Requirement) for pilots after DGCA postponed their implementation.

In a letter to Civil Aviation Minister K Rammohan Naidu, FIP President CS Randhawa has requested him to direct DGCA to implement the revised CAR at the earliest.

The letter, dated July 29, also claimed that the watchdog's failure to recognise the gravity of the fatigue issue not only jeopardises the lives of pilots but also gravely compromises the safety of the general public travelling by air.

On March 26, DGCA deferred the implementation of the CAR that was to come into effect from June 1. The decision had come less than two weeks after the regulator told airlines that the deadline would not be deferred.

Last month, a study by NGO Safety Matters Foundation said consecutive night flights, more than 10 hours of flight duty period and roster instability are among the factors leading to pilot fatigue.