New Delhi:
The Delhi High Court has been informed by the DGCA that the Airlines will implement the revised criteria on duty and comfort for pilots in a phased manner starting from July 1.
The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) also informed Justice Tara Witsta Ganju that the remaining amended rules would be implemented from 1 November.
In other aspects, the airlines will ensure that the end of a weekly comfort and the introduction of the next under the revised criteria does not exceed 168 hours.
The Watchdog’s revised civil aviation requirement (CAR) is related to the flight duty time limit and the pilot wants to provide more comfort time for pilots amid concerns over fatigue. Initially, it was to be implemented from 1 June 2024.
DGCA presented an affidavit in the court on a phased implementation of the roadmap after considering the results of the meetings between the airlines, pilot groups and the Ministry of Civil Aviation Ministry.
Additional Solicitor General Aishwarya Bhati, who represents DGCA, said that there was adequate progress in the case on rolling out of the car.
Officials decided to implement the majority of rules by 1 July 2025, while a small part (aspects are still believed to be) would be rolled out by 1 November 2025.
The matter will come on 24 February.
The court had filed arguments related to the revised flight duty time limit of DGCA by the Indian Commercial Pilot Association, Indian Pilot Guild and Federation of Indian Pilots.
The lawyer of pilots associations had earlier said, in principle, the car 2024 was acceptable, subject to certain conditions. The lawyer said, if implemented, most of the complaints will be addressed.
Many significant changes were brought to the existing criteria to deal with fatigue between pilots.
The affidavit said that the weekly comfort duration will increase from 36 hours to 48 hours.
“An operator will ensure that the minimum weekly relaxation of 48 hours consecutively including two local nights will be provided in such a way that there will never be more than 168 hours between the end of a weekly comfort period and the beginning of the next,” it said.
Went to add the affidavit, “The operator will provide weekly comfort based on the home base/temporary house base. Note 2: 168 hours will be calculated from the end of the previous weekly comfort period.” According to the car, the maximum flight time and maximum flight duty period for night flying operations was limited to eight hours and ten hours respectively.
The number of landing at night was limited to two landing compared to the current six.
The High Court asked DGCA to hold a meeting with unions, airlines and ministry.
(Tagstotransite) Pilot Rest Hour (T) Pilot Norms (T) DGCA (T) Delhi High Court
