The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has granted temporary permission for airlines to increase the flight duty time for pilots on long-haul flights. This adjustment comes in response to the necessity for longer flight routes on international flights due to the ongoing conflict in Iran. Airlines were encountering challenges as airspace closures in the Middle East have led to extended flying hours. Joint Secretary of the Ministry of Civil Aviation, Asangba Chuba Ao, highlighted the need for this relaxation in pilot flight duty time limitations.
The DGCA had implemented new flight duty norms last year to restrict the flying time for pilots and mitigate fatigue risks that could compromise flight safety. However, the current situation arising from the Iran war has necessitated longer flight durations to Western destinations due to detours around conflict zones in the Middle East. This has created operational difficulties for airlines adhering to the prescribed flight duty time limits for pilots. The DGCA had previously provided certain relaxations in pilot flight duty time limitations until April 30 to address these challenges.
For long-haul flights operated with two pilots, the DGCA has extended the Flight Time (FT) by 1.30 hours to 11.30 hours and the Flight Duty Period (FDP) by 1.45 hours to 11.45 hours. Flight time encompasses the duration from the aircraft’s initial movement for takeoff to its final halt at the end of the flight. To ensure compliance with regulations, the DGCA has enhanced monitoring mechanisms, including increased oversight on critical operations on a weekly and fortnightly basis, as well as bi-monthly inspections by designated DGCA inspectors.
The civil aviation regulator is intensifying its scrutiny of airline operations, focusing on roster integrity, crew availability, buffer adequacy, system reliability, and adherence to flight duty time limitations. These measures aim to uphold aviation safety standards amidst the challenges posed by extended flight routes and operational adjustments necessitated by the Iran conflict.
