Air India: Pilots seek urgent action from DGCA over alleged workload irregularities

air indiaPilot unions, the Indian Pilots Guild (IPG) and the Indian Commercial Pilots Association (ICPA) are urging aviation regulator DGCA to step in amid reports of pilots being overworked outside of working hours, even with recent measures. Designed to combat pilot fatigue.

The unions expressed their concerns in a letter to the Directorate General of Civil Aviation on January 26, highlighting concerns over Air India’s compliance with Flight Duty Time Limits (FDTL). They claim pilots are under pressure to work longer hours, jeopardizing career progression.

The union said such behavior not only endangers the safety and welfare of pilots but also violates regulations. According to HT, the DGCA implemented new regulations on January 8, extending the mandatory weekly rest period for pilots to 48 hours and reducing the maximum flight duty time for night shifts to 10 hours from the previous 13 hours.

As claimed by the unions, these measures have been taken amid a shortage of human resources in the Indian aviation industry, resulting in increased workload for pilots.

The pilots stressed their commitment to safety but warned to report breaches if necessary, saying: “…we feel compelled to provide evidence, including call records, to regulators to ensure transparency and accountability system.”

They urged the Directorate General of Civil Aviation to immediately investigate the allegations and stop the enforced practices related to extended working hours to safeguard the integrity of personnel and operations.