DGCA issues draft rules on ATC staff work shifts

Air traffic controllers will be allowed to work for only a specified number of hours at a stretch to avoid fatigue at work, similar to limitations applied to air crew, India’s aviation regulator decided on Tuesday to be in sync with international safety standards.

“We have issued a draft CAR (civil aviation requirement) as of now. The final regulation will be issued after extensive public consultation,” said Arun Kumar, director general of civil aviation. “We have tried to align it to International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) standards and have incorporated the global best practices.”

Section 9 of the draft CAR, which relates to airspace and air navigation services standards, puts a stress on duty hour limitations and mandatory rest for air traffic controllers.