Govt move to put pilot rest rules in abeyance draws flak

Mumbai: Aviation experts and pilots have questioned the wisdom of the Directorate-General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) move to put the rest rules for pilots in abeyance.
What was the hurry to put the new Flight Duty Time Limit (FDTL) regulations, being followed in countries like the United States, the United Kingdom and Australia, for review?
DGCA introduced the new FDTL last year as a Civil Aviation Requirement (CAR) and made it mandatory for airlines.
"The hurried decision to withdraw the CAR without adequate notification appears to be unprecedented and weighted by commercial requirements," the letter written by the Airline Pilots' Associations of India to the International Civil Aviation Organisation and international pilots' insurance companies says.
"The draft of a proposed CAR has to be circulated to all persons likely to be affected, for their objections and suggestions, whenever a new CAR is mooted. Other norms state that revision notices should be issued prior. No such procedure was followed in the case," the letter says.
What experts have found more intriguing is the fact that DGCA constituted a committee to review CAR to recommend amendments under several terms of reference. One of them was to "keep in view the availability of pilots and their optimum utilization".
04/06/08 Manju V/Times of India

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Categories: Indian Aviation- In General Jun 2008, Safety Jun 2008