Indian aviation heavyweights IndiGo and Air India Group want aviation safety watchdog Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) to put in place a Fatigue Risk Management System (FRMS) framework to fully effect the controversial changes in Flight Duty Time Limits (FDTL). rules for the crew, The Indian Express has learnt. Both airlines are understood to have proposed a phased implementation timeline from June 2025.
In a letter to the regulator earlier this month, the carriers informed the DGCA of the proposed timelines for implementing the changes, the most controversial of which include changes to night flight timings and permitted landings, and an increase to 48 in the mandatory weekly rest period for pilots. Hours from the current 36 hours.
In March this year, the DGCA postponed its decision to implement the new FDTL rules from June 1 without specifying a new implementation deadline. Airlines had expressed concern that the rapid implementation of the new rules – aimed at better fatigue management – would require too many pilots, which they would not be able to hire and train in the short term. Carriers argued that this would reduce capacity and disrupt flight schedules and operations.
Pilot agencies want to implement the new rules as soon as possible. The matter is also being heard by the Delhi High Court and the DGCA had asked the airlines to provide a deadline for implementation of the new norms.
In their communication to the DGCA earlier this month, IndiGo and Air India called for an FRMS framework, indicating that their implementation timelines for the new FDTL norms would be linked to the establishment of the framework, it is learnt. An FRMS allows an airline to adapt policies, procedures, and practices to effectively monitor and mitigate crew fatigue-related risks using data-driven scientific methods.
According to sources, IndiGo intends to gradually increase the weekly rest period from June 2025 instead of implementing the change all at once. On the issue of tweaks in night flight rules and procedures, IndiGo wants the DGCA not to extend the definition of night by one hour for the purpose of the rules, and stick to the current definition – midnight to 5 am, it is learnt.
As for limiting night landings to two for flight crews, the country’s largest airline is understood to have told the regulator it could implement it from October 2026 if it wants to apply it to a five-hour night window between midnight and 5am. Totally falls under the duty hours of the pilots for the day.
These proposals by IndiGo, however, are based on the premise that the DGCA will incorporate the FRMS framework in future, the airline told the regulator. IndiGo’s arguments for a staggered implementation include more crews that will have to be hired and trained to fully take effect of the new norms, sources said.
According to sources in the know, the Air India Group has informed the DGCA that it may increase the mandatory weekly rest period to 48 hours from June 2025, but the changes related to night flights can be implemented only after the regulator implements them. FRMS Framework. Last month too, Air India had called for the implementation of the FRMS framework in an FDTL-related meeting with DGCA officials and representatives of pilots’ unions.
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