Aerial authorities postpone new regulations on pilots’ duties and rest periods. The updated regulations pertaining to pilots’ rest and duty times have been delayed by the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), with an extension granted until June 1st.
Although the delay was notified and a new deadline was not specified, no explanation was given in the notice that was placed on the website of the aviation regulator.
The rules, which were introduced in January, decreased pilots’ night flight duty hours to a maximum of 10 hours from 13 and increased flight crews’ weekly rest periods from 36 to 48 hours.
The purpose of extending the rest break is to provide flight crew members more time to recuperate from exhaustion. Additionally, the hours between 0:00 and 6:00 have been added to the definition of “night,” which will provide pilots additional possibilities to get enough sleep.
Union Civil Aviation Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia stated, “These changes — that are very much in line with international best practices — will ensure India has the necessary arsenal as it prepares to clinch the largest domestic aviation market title in the future.” following the announcement of the revised guidelines.
Nonetheless, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) allowed airlines to continue following the prior guidelines in the meantime in an updated internet notice that was published on Tuesday.
These changes followed an analysis of pilot tiredness data from airline monitoring and spot checks, which was conducted in the wake of an IndiGo pilot’s August collapse and death prior to takeoff.
