Pilots' Plea: Delhi HC Questions DGCA's Non-Implementation of Flight Duty Norms
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The Delhi High Court has expressed skepticism over the Directorate General of Civil Aviation's (DGCA) implementation of new flight duty time limitation (FDTL) norms. The Federation of Indian Pilots (FIP) had filed a contempt plea against the DGCA for not fully enforcing the norms, which were approved by the court earlier this year. The court's query came after FIP's counsel submitted that the DGCA had allowed several airlines, including Air India and SpiceJet, to deviate from the norms despite its earlier undertaking to implement them in a phased manner. The DGCA has the power to grant exemptions, but the FIP claims that these exemptions are being given without due consideration for safety. The FDTL norms aim to reduce pilot fatigue by providing more rest time, but the FIP alleges that the DGCA is prioritizing commercial interests over safety. The court has granted time to FIP to provide previous court orders and has listed the matter for December 15. The controversy surrounding the FDTL norms is part of a larger debate over pilot safety and fatigue. The revised CAR 2024, which includes the FDTL norms, was introduced to address concerns over pilot fatigue and provide more rest time for pilots. However, the implementation of these norms has been slow, and the FIP's contempt plea highlights the need for the DGCA to enforce these regulations strictly and prioritize safety over commercial interests.
