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pilot safety concerns

New Delhi, India: India’s aviation regulator, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), is facing strong resistance from pilot unions after it approved a rule extending the maximum flight duty period for Boeing 787 crews by half an hour a move pilots warn could heighten fatigue and compromise flight safety. Under the revised guidelines, the DGCA has increased the permissible flight time for two-pilot operations on Boeing 787 aircraft from 10 hours to 10 hours 30 minutes, and the overall Flight Duty Period (FDP) from 13 hours to 14 hours. The amendment, issued late last week, comes just months before the regulator’s new fatigue management norms under Civil Aviation Requirement (CAR) 2024 are scheduled to take effect. Pilot associations, including the Airline Pilots’ Association of India (ALPA-India) and the Federation of Indian Pilots (FIP), have urged the DGCA to immediately withdraw the extension, calling it “a dangerous precedent that undermines scientific fatigue management.” “This change ignores well-documented evidence linking fatigue with reduced alertness and safety margins, especially during long-haul night operations,” ALPA-India said in a statement. “The Boeing 787’s in-flight rest facilities are already inadequate due to seat recline restrictions, and any increase in flight duty time will directly affect pilot alertness.” The union referred to an FAA airworthiness directive that restricted the reclining function of cockpit rest seats on Boeing 787s, limiting proper rest opportunities for pilots during cruise segments. The Federation of Indian Pilots separately warned that any delay in implementing the full CAR 2024 fatigue norms which had been promised in court could amount to contempt of court. The federation said the DGCA had earlier assured the Bombay High Court that it would enforce the revised duty-time limitations to align with international best practices. As the implementation date for CAR 2024 nears, pilot groups insist that fatigue management should remain rooted in science not scheduling convenience. “Adding half an hour to an already stretched limit is not operational flexibility; it’s operational fatigue,” one senior wide-body pilot told. A DGCA official maintained that the amendment was based on operational data and “falls within safe international norms.” The regulator also reiterated that the upcoming CAR 2024 norms would introduce a Fatigue Risk Management System (FRMS) to supplement prescriptive duty limits with data-driven fatigue monitoring.

Pilots

Pilots Warn Of Fatigue Risks As DGCA Extends Flight Duty Hours For Boeing 787 Crews

Aviation Today News Desk / October 31, 2025

New Delhi, India: India’s aviation regulator, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), is facing strong resistance from pilot unions […]

New Delhi, India: An Air India Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner operating flight AI117 from Amritsar to Birmingham experienced an uncommanded deployment of its Ram Air Turbine (RAT) during final approach on October 4, raising fresh concerns over the safety of the carrier’s widebody fleet. The aircraft, registered VT-ANO, landed safely in Birmingham, though its return service to Delhi was cancelled and the jet was grounded for detailed inspections. India’s aviation regulator, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), has launched a probe into the incident. According to officials, all electrical and hydraulic systems remained stable despite the RAT deployment. Routine maintenance checks recommended by Boeing were performed on the aircraft, and no discrepancies were reported. The DGCA has stated that the jet will be cleared to return to service only after thorough inspections are completed. The Federation of Indian Pilots (FIP) President G S Randhawa has formally written to the DGCA, warning that limiting post-crash inspections to fuel control switches is insufficient. Instead, the group has urged regulators to expand checks to the electrical systems of all Boeing 787 aircraft in India. The FIP highlighted that the aircraft’s Aircraft Health Monitoring (AHM) system flagged a fault in the Bus Power Control Unit (BPCU), which manages the electrical power distribution and may have triggered the RAT deployment. The union stressed that this mirrors deeper systemic issues rather than isolated switch malfunctions.

Incidents

Air India Boeing 787 Experiences Uncommanded RAT Deployment on Approach to Birmingham

Aviation Today News Desk / October 6, 2025

New Delhi, India: An Air India Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner operating flight AI117 from Amritsar to Birmingham experienced an uncommanded deployment

Colorado, United States: A mid-air collision between two small aircraft at Fort Morgan Municipal Airport on Sunday morning left one person dead and three others injured, officials reported. According to the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), a Cessna 172 and an Extra Flugzeugbau EA-300 collided while both were on final approach to land at the airport. The Morgan County Sheriff's Office received the first report of the crash at approximately 10:44 a.m. local time. Emergency crews including deputies from the Morgan County Sheriff’s Office, personnel from the Fort Morgan Police Department, Colorado State Patrol, Fort Morgan Fire Department, and Morgan County Ambulance arrived promptly at the scene. The two occupants of the Cessna 172 sustained only minor injuries and were treated on-site. In contrast, one occupant of the EA-300 was taken to a local hospital, while the other was declared dead at the crash site by the Morgan County Coroner’s Office. Following the collision, both aircraft crashed and caught fire. A plume of smoke was visible from afar, and bystanders rushed to help extinguish the flames before first responders arrived. The FAA and the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) have launched a joint investigation, with the NTSB expected to take the lead on determining what caused the crash. In a statement, the Morgan County Sheriff’s Office expressed condolences to the victim’s family: “We extend our deepest condolences to the family and friends of the victim in this tragic event. We would like to express our gratitude to all the agencies that helped with this situation. Additionally, we want to thank the citizens who assisted in trying to extinguish the fire until the fire department and first responders arrived on the scene.” The crash occurred during a weekend aerobatics competition at the airport involving Metropolitan State University of Denver’s collegiate aerobatics team. University officials clarified that their event was unrelated to the collision. Meanwhile, the airport has been closed temporarily as investigators and emergency teams continue their work.

Aircraft Crashes

1 Dead, 3 Injured in Mid-Air Collision at Colorado’s Fort Morgan Municipal Airport

Aviation Today News Desk / September 1, 2025

Colorado, United States: A mid-air collision between two small aircraft at Fort Morgan Municipal Airport on Sunday morning left one

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