Flight Duty Time Limitations (FDTL) Rules

Context

Recently, the Director General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has asked Indian Airlines regarding their readiness timelines to implement the new Flight Duty Time Limitations (FDTL) Rules.

Brief about DGCA (Director General of Civil Aviation)

• The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) performs this paramount role of civil aviation regulation with the sole purpose of maintaining the safety and security of the Indian civil aviation sector.
• Created under Aircraft (Amendment) Act of 2020, DGCA has regulatory power to enforce regulations and standards meant for air transport services operating to, from, and within India.
• Actually, DGCA, which is the regulatory authority in civil aviation, carries out the primary tasks i.e., maintaining zero-error safety in all respects, be it airline’s operations, airports’ management or pilots’ certifications.
• Besides, Common Aviation DGCA works side by side with the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) to align the standards for Indian aviation with the global standards.
• DGCA undertakes multifold functions including aircraft registration, airport certification, pilot licensing, safety investigations, accident prevention plans, and supervision of aviation training institutes. This comprehensive safety oversight is ensured all over the aviation sector.

About Flight Duty Time Limitations (FDTL) Rules

• DGCA had FDTL Rules in 2019 introduced, which were aimed at addressing the challenges mentioned.
• The problem of piloting while tired resulting in wrong actions and health hazards is one of the greatest safety issues in air transportation.
• The primary distress that the plane crews say, include fatigue resulting from prolonged flights, unclear schedules, and tremendous burden.
• The International Civil Aviation Organization regulations prescribe the development of corresponding nations’ rules that specify fatigue management in the aviation sector.
• FDTL rule sets contain the maximum flight duty periods, mandatory rest and own control time periods restrictions for night operations.
• Carriers should comply with these restrictions and have their own fatigue limitations such as DGCA’s framework.
• FDTL enclose the airlines to abide by its rules which do not allow the shortage of time to flight operation crew.
• The aim is to alleviate the dangers related to the fatigue of crew and make the process of the operations us.
• The importance of a properly-implemented fatigue management cannot be underestimated when ensuring safety standards in aviation is required.

How Airlines Respond to it

• FIA urged that DGCA extend a year for new rules due to the given mentioned concerns.
• Some new regulations will demand the doubling of pilots by 20-25%, a highly complicated process that will test the hiring and training abilities of airlines.
• The courses addressed are due to amendments like expanding weekly rest time up to 48 hours and curtailing night time flying hours for aviators.
• Airlines could end up recruiting more pilots or cutting down their costs through more than usual procedures to handle the new restrictions.
• DGCA requests from airlines the time when they will introduce the new rules.

Conclusion

• In sum, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation’s (DGCA) investigation into whether or not Indian airlines are prepared to meet the new Flight Duty Time Limitations (FDTL) rules reflects the utmost priority of safety in civil aviation in totality. 
• Confronted with such problems as the need to bring in more pilots and amendment of the operational process, the crew fatigue management becomes a crucial issue for safe and effective air transportation. 
• Collaboration between aviation authorities and airlines is vital in solving these problems and maintaining high safety standards in the aviation industry.

Source: The Indian Express

UPSC Mains Practice Question

Q.Discuss the significance of the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) in ensuring safety and security in the Indian civil aviation sector. How do the newly proposed Flight Duty Time Limitations (FDTL) Rules address challenges related to crew fatigue and enhance safety measures in aviation operations?

Download as PDF