Pilots' duty hours: HC stays DGCA circular

Mumbai: Giving some relief to pilots, the Bombay High Court today ruled that the Directorate General of Civil Aviation(DGCA) should not enforce an old rule which would have meant that pilots would fly longer hours and have fewer hours of rest.
The court while staying the DGCA's circular which had brought 1992 rules regarding pilots' duty hours back in force said existing rules, framed in 2007, which pilots favour would remain in force pending its final decision.
A division bench of Justices S B Mhase and Ashutosh Kumbhkoni gave the order a week after admitting the petition filed by three pilots' associations, challenging the DGCA'S decision to keep the 2007 rules regarding pilots' duty hours in abeyance and reverting to 1992 rules.
Pilots claimed that reverting to old rules meant longer duty hours and shorter breaks that can cause fatigue to the crew besides posing danger to safety of aircraft.
The petitioners represented associations of pilots from Air India, Indian Airlines and Jet Airways.
01/07/08 Sahara Samay

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