Mumbai: Representatives of the Indian Commercial Pilots Association (ICPA) met the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) last week to put forth their problems related to the Flight Duty Time Limit (FDTL). The pilots opposed the new rest norms introduced by Air India (AI) where a 24 hour rest period is provided to them in 168 hours. The pilots put forth the findings of a committee led by aviation secretary Naseem Zaidi to demand a longer rest period.
A statement released by the ICPA said that the committee report recommends that a 36 hour rest period be provided in 168 hours. "In the absence of direct scientific evidence, it is not possible to provide clear guidance on the relationship between cumulative fatigue and the frequency of days off. Therefore, the Committee agreed to adhere to available best international practices of 36 hours in 7 days," said the report.
31/12/12 Chinmayi Shalya/Times of India
