CHENNAI, Oct 26: The Airline Pilots’ Association of India (ALPA) has urged the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) to immediately withdraw the Flight Duty Time Limit (FDTL) extension for two pilot 787 operations.
In a letter dated today to DGCA, the ALPA has asked the DGCA to mandate augmented crew (3-man operations) for all flights exceeding eight hours or operating through the Window of Circadian Low (WOCL) until the corrective seat modification is implemented and the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) recently issued Airworthiness Directive (AD) FAA-2024-0218 (FAA AD) is superseded.
The pilot’s body also urged DGCA to undertake a comprehensive fatigue risk assessment in consultation with flight crew representatives before approving any further deviation from established limits.
“This issue strikes at the heart of flight safety. The recent regulatory action, if left unaddressed, exposes not only the operating crew but also passengers and the travelling public to unnecessary and preventable risk,” ALPA said in its letter.
ALPA said the FAA recently issued the Airworthiness Directive (AD) FAA-2024-0218 mandating restriction of the captain’s seat recline function on the Boeing 787 due to safety concerns.
“Airlines worldwide have responded to this restriction by providing additional operating crew to mitigate the increased fatigue risk. In sharp contrast, it is deeply concerning that the DGCA has chosen to extend the FDTL for 2-man crew operations on B787 to 10:30 Hrs , despite the existing 10-hour limit already being at the upper threshold of safe fatigue management, and despite there being no pilot shortage whatsoever in the country,” ALPA said.
The pilots body said the whole idea of formulating a Civil Aviation Requirement (CAR) on Flight Duty Time Limitations was based on extensive research and scientific study on human fatigue and its operational consequences, aligned with the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) recommendations and guidelines.
“The CAR was thus designed to protect against the known risks of fatigue-related performance degradation. Granting dispensations or deviations from this, CAR defeats the very purpose of its creation and undermines the scientific basis on which it stands,” ALPA said.
ALPA also wants a clarification whether this recent dispensation has been taken with the explicit knowledge or approval of ICAO.
“Extending duty hours instead of mandating an augmented crew, particularly so soon after a recent fatal accident, raises serious questions about the prioritisation of flight safety over operational costs and convenience,” ALPA added.
(UNI)
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