Commercial convenience can't override safety': Pilots' body flags proposed relaxation of flight duty norms

The Federation of Indian Pilots (FIP) says proposed relaxations to flight duty norms shouldn’t be fully implemented later than March 2027, warning that “commercial/ operational convenience cannot take precedence over mandatory safety requirements.” In a letter dated Oct. 21 to Civil Aviation Minister K Rammohan Naidu, FIP argued against extending dispensations that were set to end Oct. 31, 2026, asking the ministry to withdraw the extension subject to the legal framework and directions from the Delhi High Court. The revised Flight Duty Time Limitations (FDTL) are being rolled out in phases, with the first phase implemented in July 2025, while restrictions on the number of night landings were postponed to November. FIP also urged DGCA to conduct airline-by-airline assessments covering pilot availability, fleet needs, recruitment, training, rostering and reserve capacity, and to hold meetings with pilots’ associations before further decisions.