ALPA India urges DGCA to stop relaxing flight duty limits
India's main pilots' association (ALPA India) is urging the aviation regulator, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), to stop making flight duty time rules more relaxed.
They're worried that letting airlines push pilots right up to the legal limit, without extra safety buffers, could lead to dangerous fatigue and put flights at risk.
ALPA demands FDTL rollback, data transparency
This push comes after two pilot deaths, making the call for stricter rules feel urgent.
ALPA India says, "These variations, originally conceived as transitional measures, have effectively become the norm. ... it is requested that the DGCA initiate a structured and time-bound program for the gradual withdrawal of all such variations, culminating in the full and uniform implementation of FDTL provisions across operators."
They also want airlines to share pilot fatigue data openly, so everyone can see what's really going on.
The big message: real rest for pilots matters. Safety shouldn't be compromised just for convenience.