ALPA India Urges DGCA to Reconsider Flight Duty Time Extension for Boeing 787 Pilots

The Airline Pilots Association of India (ALPA India) has called on the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) to reverse its decision to extend flight duty times for Boeing 787 Dreamliner pilots. The pilots' body argues that this change could lead to fatigue-related mistakes. The DGCA recently increased the Flight Duty Time Limitation (FDTL) from 10 hours to 10.5 hours and the Flight Duty Period (FDP) from 13 hours to 14 hours for two-pilot operations.

Air India, owned by Tata Group, operates Boeing 787 Dreamliners. ALPA India expressed concerns in a letter to the DGCA, stating that the Civil Aviation Requirement (CAR) on FDTL was developed based on thorough research into human fatigue and its effects on operations. The pilots' association believes that the DGCA's decision seems to prioritise operational convenience over flight safety.

Concerns Over Safety Practices

ALPA India highlighted a directive from the US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) that limits the recline function of the captain's seat on Boeing 787s due to safety issues. This restriction has negatively affected crew rest quality during flights. The pilots' group is urging the DGCA to conduct a detailed fatigue risk assessment with input from flight crew representatives before allowing any further deviations from established limits.

The association claims that extending duty hours without requiring an augmented crew is inconsistent with global safety standards. This decision, especially following a recent fatal accident, raises concerns about whether flight safety is being compromised for operational efficiency and cost savings.

Recent Incident Raises Alarm

On June 12, an Air India Dreamliner crashed shortly after departing from Ahmedabad, resulting in 260 fatalities. ALPA India pointed out that operating long routes with limited rest capabilities, combined with challenging weather and night operations, increases the risk of fatigue-induced errors.

The pilots' body insists that the regulatory decision appears unjustified and dangerously inconsistent with international safety practices. They emphasise that prioritising operator convenience over flight safety is a matter of grave concern.

ALPA India is advocating for a withdrawal of the DGCA's decision and stresses the importance of consulting with flight crew representatives in future assessments. They believe such measures are crucial to maintaining high safety standards in aviation operations.

With inputs from PTI