Outlook Business Desk
The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has introduced new rules requiring airlines to provide yearly training for pilots and cabin crew on managing fatigue and tiredness.
According to the guidelines, airlines must provide at least one hour of fatigue management training each year. This will be part of the regular annual ground training for pilots and cabin crew.
The training must include flying and duty hour rules, rest requirements, sleep patterns, circadian rhythm, causes of fatigue, and the impact of tiredness on pilots’ and cabin crew’s performance.
Crew will be trained on preventing fatigue, considering lifestyle, diet, exercise, family life, sleep disorders, long flights, multiple short flights, and flying across different time zones.
Airlines can also include flight schedulers and dispatch teams in this training, as they contribute to planning crew schedules, which directly affects fatigue levels and duty efficiency.
DGCA has also instructed airlines to implement a clear fatigue reporting policy for all staff and set up an independent Fatigue Review Committee to study reports and suggest solutions.
Airlines must share quarterly reports with DGCA, including crew trained, total fatigue cases, accepted or rejected reports, and reasons for rejections. Crew must receive at least 24 hours rest.
DGCA introduced the new fatigue guidelines after a July audit found many airlines were unclear about existing rules. Pilot groups had also raised safety concerns over duty-time changes.
Earlier, DGCA increased weekly rest to 48 hours and limited night landings. Airlines like IndiGo and Air India initially opposed these rules, which were enforced only after Delhi High Court directions.