Duty rules for airline crew tweaked following protests

Less than a month after aviation safety regulator faced criticism for changes made in flight duty rules for the cabin crew, a group formed by flight attendants from different domestic airlines proposed a laundry list of revisions.

Less than a month after aviation safety regulator faced criticism for changes made in flight duty rules for the cabin crew, a group formed by flight attendants from different domestic airlines proposed a laundry list of revisions. The new rules put up on Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) website last month reflected longer work hours and reduced rest periods kicking off concerns of travel fatigue among crew. The rules would come into effect from September.

Less than a month after aviation safety regulator faced criticism for changes made in flight duty rules for the cabin crew, a group formed by flight attendants from different domestic airlines proposed a laundry list of revisions (Vipin Kumar/ Hindustan Times)

On March 9, the nameless group submitted a 16-point letter seeking revision in the new rules attributing it to ‘on behalf of the cabin crew fraternity’.

“The civil aviation requirement (CAR) misses the most important point that the crew as any other human being require a minimum 8 hour sleep pattern (as per local time) to ensure a level of alertness so as to perform safety job functions,” read the note.

The group also alleged that the new rules were ‘smartly tweaked’ to suit airlines’ commercial interest although its purpose is ensure that crew manning aircraft cabins are fit.

For instance, the annual quota of flight duty shifts has been maintained to 1000 hours but the weekly quota has been increased from 35 hours to 40 hours.