DGCA increases rest time period for flight crew from 36 to 48 hours

DGCA: In good news for flight crew, Directorate General of Civil Aviation has extended weekly rest periods for flight crew, increasing it from 36 hours to 48 hours for flight crew.

These additional leisure hours are expected to ensure sufficient time for recovery from fatigue.

India has made significant changes in the regulations about Flight Duty Time Limitations (FDTL) for flight crew, in line with international best practices.

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DGCA said these regulations hav  e been instrumental in managing fatigue-related aviation safety risks for more than a decade now.

To address and mitigate concerns about pilot fatigue through a data-driven approach, DGCA collected and analysed extensive numbers of pilot rosters along with pilot fatigue reports submitted by airline operators.
Based on the study and analysis, some of the key areas inducing fatigue such as maximum Flight Duty Period, Night Duty, Weekly Rest Period, and Flight Duty Period Extension were identified.

The revised guidelines have modified the definition of "night" for night duty, expanding the covered period from 0000-0500 hours, as specified in the previous regulations, to the new timeframe of 0000-0600 hours.
"This enhancement of one hour during the early morning will ensure adequate rest and also align the night duty period which encompasses Window of Circadian Low (WOCL) from 0200-0600 hours i.e. the time during which the circadian body clock cycle is at its lowest in terms of alertness."

The updated regulations have incorporated considerations for various types of operations conducted across different time zones. In the case of flight operations extending into the night, the maximum allowable flight time and flight duty period have been constrained to 8 hours and 10 hours, respectively. Additionally, the maximum number of landings permitted during night operations has been reduced to two, contrasting with the previous regulations that allowed up to six landings. These changes are aimed at bolstering flight safety measures.

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The revised FDTL regulations are effective forthwith and the airline operators are required to comply with the revised regulations by June 1, 2024.

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