New Delhi: Aviation authorities have started determining how many domestic and international flights will operate this summer. The DGCA will weigh pilot availability while approving the summer flight plan, which will come into effect from March 29, to avoid a crisis like the one IndiGo faced two months ago.However, determining pilot availability has proven to be a tightrope walk as all major airlines in India have been granted regulatory exemptions from certain provisions of the Flight Deck Crew Flight Duty Time Limit (FDTL) rules. These exemptions will expire at the end of next month. Airlines have sought extensions and the Civil Aviation Administration of China is reviewing their requests.
The ability of airlines to operate any number of flights will depend on this decision. Removing the FDTL exemption would mean fewer flights during the summer tourist season, higher fares and a public outcry – something the government is keen to avoid. Extending these times raises concerns about crew members overstretching themselves, compromising flight safety.For example, Air India has been opting for longer routes on flights to and from the West due to geopolitical reasons. According to regulations, flights lasting more than 10 hours require three pilots. Since all flights between northern India (Delhi is AI’s main hub) and the west are affected by the closure of Pakistani airspace, they are exempted if they are manned by two pilots on flights of up to 10.5 hours. “Due to tight infrastructure, IndiGo and Akasa mostly get night time slots in busy hubs in India. They have sought exemptions for pilots from night use, otherwise the number of flights would not increase to cope with rising passenger traffic but would fall. “A person familiar with the matter said. Pilots say the current situation arises mainly because airlines almost always seek exemptions from the Civil Aviation Administration. A senior captain said: “In order to control wages, airlines are moving slowly in pilot recruitment and pilot career development… Tired and inhumane lists have become a reality until everyone is forced to wake up.” IndiGo and AI recently resumed recruitment at the trainee first officer level after nearly 1.5 years.
