The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) on Friday, March 22, imposed a penalty of ₹80 lakh on Air India following revelations of regulatory violations concerning flight duty time limitations (FDTL) and fatigue management systems (FMS) for its flight crew.
In a recent spot audit conducted by the DGCA in January 2024, aimed at verifying the operator's compliance with FDTL and FMS regulations, alarming instances of non-compliance were unearthed. The audit involved collection of evidence and the analysis of fleet-wise random reports.
Among the infractions discovered, Air India was found to have operated certain flights with crew members aged over 60, a direct contravention of Aircraft Rules.
Additionally, the airline was found to be deficient in providing adequate weekly rest, as well as sufficient rest before and after ultra-long-range (ULR) flights, and during layovers – all of which are mandated by the extant provisions of the Civil Aviation Requirements governing FDTL.
