Allow no exceptions in flight duty and rest norms, pilots’ body urges regulator

Mumbai: Pilots’ grouping ALPA India on Tuesday urged aviation safety regulator DGCA to implement the new flight duty time and rest period norms for pilots in entirety, without any exception.

The Association of Air Line Pilots (ALPA) India said that such selective relaxations appear to serve the commercial interests of certain operators rather than uphold the primary mandate of the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA).

Dispensations and deferments are being accorded without meaningful consultation with the end-users, pilots, who are directly impacted by fatigue and safety-related implications of these regulations, the association added.