A black Friday for aviation safety in India, Pg6

Key Highlights:

• The Ministry of Civil Aviation put the DGCA's Flight Duty Time Limitations (FDTL) orders in abeyance to stabilize operations after Indigo flight cancellations.
• The DGCA appealed to pilots to cooperate and dilute FDTL, a move criticized as prioritizing commercial interests over passenger safety.
• In 2007, the DGCA issued a CAR addressing crew fatigue, but it was later kept in abeyance due to airline owners' complaints.
• The Bombay High Court initially slammed the aviation authority for risking lives by manipulating pilots' duty hours but later reversed its order.

Detailed Insights:

• The owner of Indigo and the DGCA were aware of the new regulations taking effect from November 1, 2025, yet were unprepared, leading to widespread chaos.
• DGCA's CAR Series ‘C’ Part II Section 3 dated April 19, 2022, stipulates a minimum number of flight and cabin crew per aircraft, which airlines allegedly underemploy.
• Airlines exploit the existing FDTL rules by under employing qualified crew, with Indigo identified as a major player in this practice.
• The International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), in 2006, recommended an independent civil aviation authority for India, free from government control, which hasn't been implemented.
• The findings of the Air India AI 171 crash in Ahmedabad are being delayed by the Ministry, raising concerns about transparency and accountability.

Key Concepts Involved:

• Flight Duty Time Limitations (FDTL): Regulations that limit the amount of time flight crews can work to prevent fatigue.
• Civil Aviation Requirements (CAR): Comprehensive set of rules and regulations established by the DGCA governing various aspects of aviation safety, operations, and standards in India.
• Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA): The regulatory body responsible for overseeing aviation safety and standards in India.