Aviation Ministry revises Flight Duty Time Limitations norms — increases rest periods, amends night duty

Civil Aviation Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia on Monday, January 8, announced a slew of reforms in Flight Duty Time Limitations (FDTL) for pilots. The revised "FDTL Regulations" include increased rest periods, redefining night duty, and regular fatigue reports to be shared by airlines.

As per the regulations, the government has increased weekly rest periods from 36 hours to 48 hours for flight crew.

The definition of night has been amended. It is now from 12 midnight to 6 am from earlier time frame of 12 midnight to 5 am. The maximum flight time and maximum flight duty period for flight operations encroaching night have been restricted to 8 hours flight time and 10 hours flight duty period respectively.

The number of landings have been limited to only two landings as compared to maximum permissible six landings under previous regulations during night operations.

The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has mandated that all airline operators to submit quarterly fatigue reports. These reports will follow a non-punitive and confidentiality policy.

The revised FDTL regulations are effective forthwith and the airline operators are required to comply with the revised regulations latest by June 1, 2024.

The ministry will work towards a new regime of fatigue management — Fatigue Risk Management System (FRMS). It will be a data-driven approach to enhance monitoring of flight crew fatigue.