Air India adopts fatigue risk system as pilot bodies flag safety concerns

NEW DELHI: The deadline set by the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) for airlines and other stakeholders to respond to its advisory on the Fatigue Risk Management System (FRMS) for pilots ends on Monday, so Air India has decided to adopt the new system. However, a leading pilot association has said that the system in its present form raises serious concerns.

The FRMS places responsibility on airlines to ensure strong reporting mechanisms and maintain schedules that give cockpit crew enough opportunities for rest and sleep. The advisory also stresses that no punitive action should be taken against pilots who declare themselves fatigued and unfit to fly.