With hundreds of IndiGo flights being cancelled over the past few days, the Government of India has had to intervene and demand a proper review.
It has reportedly been found that although the airline has about 5,000 pilots right now, it is way short of the number required for smooth flight operations in line with the revised norms. This was revealed post an examination of the new Flight Duty Time Limitations (FDTL) as per which cockpit crew are allowed specific hours of work/ duty and rest.
A report by businessline reveals that IndiGo’s flight disruptions have come about as part of its efforts to implement the second phase of the FDTL norms that were revised last month.
Things are expected to improve once IndiGo submits a detailed plan to the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) including how many pilots it will hire in phases and by when, how it will restructure the roster, the manner in which it will train the recruits and the mitigation plans in place.
The revised norms provide for longer rest per week, redefinition of ‘night’ and stricter limits on night flying so that pilot fatigue is reduced and safety of flights and passengers is ensured.
The Government is seeking more stability in the airline’s operations. That is why the senior management has formally met DGCA officials, as well as the representatives of the Ministry of Civil Aviation yesterday, 4 December, to discuss the way forward.
