GURUGRAM- IndiGo Airlines (6E) and Air India (AI) have firmly opposed the Directorate General of Civil Aviation’s (DGCA) proposal to extend night flying restrictions for pilots, citing potential operational disruptions.
The airlines submitted their formal responses on December 4, addressing multiple aspects of the DGCA’s January 2024 pilot fatigue management guidelines.
Air India IndiGo Pilots
IndiGo’s Chief Operating Officer (COO), Isidro Porequras, explicitly rejected the DGCA’s recommendation to extend the definition of night flying from the current midnight-5 AM window to include 6 AM.
The airline emphasized maintaining the existing time frame, as the proposed change would significantly reduce permitted night flying hours for pilots, who currently face a limit of two consecutive night duties per week.
The Air India Group has tied its acceptance of the new night flying definition to a prerequisite: the DGCA must first implement an advanced data-driven fatigue management system. Both Air India and its subsidiary, Air India Express (IX), maintained this position in their December 4 submissions.
The airlines have also presented delayed implementation timelines for increasing pilots’ weekly rest hours from 36 to 48. IndiGo proposed a phased rollout between June 2025 and post-July 2026, while Air India Group suggested a June 2025 start date.
These responses come nine months after the DGCA suspended its original implementation plan. The regulator had initially scheduled these changes for June 1, 2024, but suspended them on March 26 following strong industry opposition.
In April, the DGCA requested airlines to propose their preferred implementation schedules.
The International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) has established clear parameters for Fatigue Risk Management Systems (FRMS).
The organization defines FRMS as a data-driven methodology that continuously monitors and manages fatigue-related safety risks, incorporating scientific principles, knowledge, and operational experience to maintain adequate alertness levels among personnel.
Complex Implementation Challenges
IndiGo has taken a firm stance on night flying regulations, proposing to implement landing restrictions no earlier than October 2026. The airline stipulates these restrictions should apply only when flights fully span the midnight to 5 AM period, allowing additional landings for partial night-time operations.
Aviation experts emphasize that takeoffs and landings present the highest accident risks. These critical flight phases demand rapid decision-making near ground level, with pilots managing complex aircraft configurations while contending with air traffic and weather challenges.
IndiGo has tied its regulatory compliance to the DGCA’s implementation of FRMS. Similarly, SpiceJet seeks to delay implementation until March 2026, citing a need to expand its pilot workforce by 25%. The airline has also requested exemptions during monsoon and fog seasons.
Aviation safety expert Captain Amit Singh, who pilots for an international carrier and leads the Safety Matters Foundation, provides crucial context. He notes that ICAO’s Annexe 6 recommends FRMS specifically for markets with mature aviation safety systems.
Countries lacking this maturity must follow prescriptive norms. Singh points out that ICAO’s latest audit revealed India’s failure to achieve its State Safety Programme Foundation, which encompasses fundamental safety oversight activities.
Singh elaborates on the physiological impacts of night flying. The body’s natural repair processes occur between 2 AM and 5 AM during sleep. Night operations disrupt this circadian rhythm, preventing essential recovery.
This disruption accumulates over several days, leading to cognitive impairment. While European aviation regulations mandate two days and two nights of rest twice monthly, Indian rules currently require only 36 hours of weekly rest.
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