DGCA phased roll-out: More rest for pilots, tighter limits for night flying

India's aviation regulator has proposed a new, phased roadmap to introduce stricter limits on when and how long pilots can fly in order to minimise fatigue among air crew in a submission to Delhi high court.

- Shruti Kakkar

NEW DELHI:

The Director General of Civil Aviation's (DGCA) roadmap, submitted to the Delhi high court, proposes increasing pilots' weekly rest from 36 to 48 hours starting July 1, 2025, and phasing in reduced night flying from November 1, 2025, as part of relaxed duty norms for cockpit crew.

DGCA, in its affidavit before the high court, stated that of the 22 proposed clauses pertaining to Flight Duty Time Limitation (FDTL), 15 would be implemented from July 1, 2025, while the remaining would be rolled out from November 1, 2025.