India: The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has proposed a phased implementation of new pilot duty and rest regulations, aiming to enhance flight safety by reducing pilot fatigue. This proposal was submitted to the Delhi High Court, outlining a two-stage rollout.
Phased Implementation Plan
The first phase, commencing on July 1, 2025, will see the enforcement of 15 clauses from the revised Flight Duty Time Limitation (FDTL) norms. A significant change in this phase is the extension of the mandatory weekly rest period for pilots from the current 36 hours to 48 hours.
The second phase, starting on November 1, 2025, will implement the remaining seven clauses. This includes a redefinition of ‘night duty’ to cover duty periods between midnight and 6 a.m., an expansion from the previous midnight to 5 a.m. window.
“Out of 22 clauses, 15 clauses would be implemented from 01.07.2025 and the remaining 7 clauses would be rolled out from 01.11.2025,” stated an affidavit filed by DGCA’s Assistant Director (Operations) Himanshu Srivastava. The next hearing is scheduled for February 24, 2025.
These revised norms were initially introduced in January 2024, with an intended implementation date of June 1, 2024. However, opposition from airlines, citing operational challenges, led to a postponement.
Concerns Over Fatigue and Airline Resistance
Pilots have been demanding the removal of two consecutive nights of flying, introduced in 2019, as it disrupts sleep, causes fatigue, and affects alertness. Increased international flights have raised night flying, while airlines cut layovers to improve cost efficiency, further straining pilots.
Airlines have expressed concerns regarding the new regulations. IndiGo, for instance, warned that expanding the night duty definition could have a “severe operational impact.” Air India indicated it would adopt the changes only after the DGCA introduces a modern, data-driven fatigue risk management system.
Sources from pilot unions noted that the DGCA used the term “roll-out” instead of “implementation” for the November 1 changes, indicating possible staggered enforcement. The Delhi High Court will review the matter in its next hearing on Feb 24, 2025
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