New Delhi: The Airline Pilots’ Association of India (APAI) has written to the Directorate General of Civil Aviation expressing deep concern over the recent extension of Flight Duty Time Limit (FDTL).
The APAI is of the view that the extension for Boeing 787 two-man flight crew operations from 10 hours FT (flight time) to 10.30 hours and 13 hours of FDP (fight duty period) to 14 hours is a “matter of grave operational and safety concern”.
The letter to DGCA, seen by the Hindustan Times, highlighted the Federal Aviation Administration’s (FAA) Airworthiness Directive (AD), FAA-2024-0218, which has restricted the seat recline function of the flight’s captain on the Boeing 787 owing to safety concerns.
Inability to recline the seat has reduced effectiveness of in-flight rest, particularly during long sectors.
“This restriction has had a direct and severe impact on crew rest quality during flight,” the pilots’ body stated.
The pilots pointed out that airlines across the world have decided to provide additional operating crew owing to this new directive, in order to mitigate the increased fatigue risk.
“In sharp contrast, it is deeply concerning that the DGCA has chosen to extend the FDTL for 2-man crew operations on B787 to 10:30 Hrs,” the association said.
The existing 10-hour limit is already at the upper threshold of safe fatigue management, APAI pointed out, adding that there was no pilot shortage in the country to necessitate the extension of the FTDL.
“The whole idea of formulating a Civil Aviation Requirement (CAR) on Flight Duty Time Limitations was based on extensive research and scientific study on human fatigue and its operational consequences, aligned with the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) recommendations and guidelines,” the letter said.
The pilots’ body expressed concern about DGCA placing greater consideration on the convenience of flight operators and commercial airlines rather than prioritising flight safety.
