What Happened
Federation Of Indian Pilots Challenges Five-Month Relaxation On Duty Hours
The Federation of Indian Pilots has urged the Civil Aviation Ministry to withdraw the Directorate General of Civil Aviation’s decision to extend relaxations on pilot duty and rest requirements until March 31, 2027. The extension gives airlines five additional months to comply fully with the revised Flight Duty Time Limitations rules. The pilots’ body argues that repeated extensions could compromise fatigue-management safeguards, while airlines cite crew shortages and rising operating costs. The dispute highlights the tension between airlines’ operational requirements and pilots’ concerns over fatigue-related risks, as reported by The Economic Times and The New Indian Express.