Pilots’ grouping flags pilot fatigue; urges govt to implement revised flight duty norms
The revised CAR related to flight duty time limitation seeks to provide more rest time for pilots amid rising concerns over pilot fatigue
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| Photo Credit: G.P. Sampath Kumar
Raising concerns about pilot fatigue, pilots' grouping Federation of Indian Pilots (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 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.
Pilot fatigue in India, a wake-up call for airlines
The revised CAR related to flight duty time limitation seeks to provide more rest time for pilots amid rising concerns over pilot fatigue. In March, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) decided to postpone its 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 action of the DGCA not only endangers pilot safety but also undermines the safety of passengers, which the implementation of the revised CAR could prevent," the letter said, referring to the regulator's move to postpone implementation of the CAR.
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.
Pilot rest norms: DGCA seeks implementation timeline from airlines
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.
The online survey that covered 530 respondents, most of them captains with significant hours in operating medium short-haul flights, was done from July 16-22.
Why is the DGCA firm on new rest rules for pilots? | Explained
As many as 84% of the pilots are concerned with the speed and direction of shift rotation, while 83% of respondents are worried about the onset of fatigue due to consecutive night flights, as per the study.
"70% of pilots in the survey considered that more than 10 hours of flight duty period profoundly influenced the onset of fatigue. NASA and EASA scientific studies have recommended a maximum of 10 hours of flight duty period," it had said.
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