Key Points
This will be disruptive as increasing the number of pilots in such a short time is practically impossible," the CEO of an airline said, asking not to be named.APRepresentative.
They said that new rules by the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), which come into effect from June 1, will need airlines to increase their pilot strength by 20% within three months or cut flights to conform to the rules..
"It's impossible to do this within that period and airlines will be forced to reduce flights to conform to the rules," the CEO, quoted above, said.. Officials who handle crew scheduling said that a large number of flights of IndiGo, Air India Express and Vistara to the Middle East fall during the night period..
Pilots have long argued they are being stretched by airlines using the regulator's soft rules.. "According to extensive research, pilots operating between 2 am-6 am remain the most vulnerable to fatigue because it falls within the window of circadian low (WOCL) meaning the body experiences the highest level of sleepiness and performance capability is at lowest..
We wanted to limit the number of flights a pilot does during that period," a senior DGCA official said.. Airline executives have said that DGCA should allow airlines to have their own flight risk management system (FRMS) under which airlines use data to monitor crew fatigue and alertness..
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