| Syllabus: GS- III, Subject: Economy, Topic: Infrastructure, Issue: Infrastructure-Airports |
Context: The revised Civil Aviation Requirements (CAR) by Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) DGCA’s revised CAR
- The DGCA has allowed airlines to operate under older regulations until their new schemes are approved.
- Earlier in January DGCA updated flight duty time limitations (FDTL) to address fatigue issues in the aviation industry.
- These changes included more rest time for pilots, redefining night duty, and requiring airlines to report fatigue regularly.
Reasons behind postponement:
- Indian airlines federation sought postponement of new rules, citing potential need for more pilots and up to 20% flight cancellations.
Concerns:
- DGCA’s decision to relax regulations could perpetuate pilot fatigue.
- Indian aviation market, amidst pilot shortage, experiences high growth, leading to stress on flight crews.
- Ultra-long-haul flights, including more wide body aircraft, contribute to crew stress.
The way ahead:
DGCA must enforce regulatory norms aligned with top safety standards for the well-being of flight crews and passengers.
