HC seeks DGCA stand on staying pilot duty norms

New Delhi: Concerns about public safety due to non-implementation of DGCA regulations to prevent pilot fatigue could not be “brushed aside”, Delhi high court said Wednesday, and sought the aviation regulator’s stand on a plea challenging its decision to keep in abeyance the revised Flight Duty Time Limitation (FDTL) norms.FDTL regulations prescribe minimum rest periods for pilots and flight crew members and aim to strengthen fatigue management to ensure passenger safety.

Hearing a PIL against DGCA’s move to pause implementation of the revised FDTL norms till Feb 10 in the wake of a massive disruption in IndiGo operations, a bench of Chief Justice D K Upadhyaya and Justice Tejas Karia orally remarked: “It has a direct link to the safety of passengers.