The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has proposed two phased implementation of pilot duty time norms, turning down airline pleas for revision.
However, airlines will have time till November 1 to execute rules regarding night operations.
The regulator has submitted the plan in an affidavit to the Delhi High Court, which is hearing petitions against the earlier version of the rules.
New duty norms
Last January DGCA introduced new duty norms for pilots but these were put on hold following opposition from airlines. The rules provide 48 hours of weekly rest (instead of the current 36) and restrict the number of flights a pilot can operate during night.
As per DGCA’s affidavit, 15 clauses including the one of enhancing weekly rest to 48 hours will be implemented from July 1. Seven clauses including those on night duty would come into effect from November 1.
IndiGo and SpiceJet had opposed the amendment to the rules governing night duty. Under the revision, the number of landings a pilot can make will be restricted to two, and the definition of night will be changed from midnight to 6 a.m. instead of midnight to 5 a.m. IndiGo had said the proposed change in the night window will have a severe operational impact.