The Directorate General of Civil Aviation has taken this step with the objective of ensuring pilot availability for airline companies to facilitate smooth operations.
Add informalnewz.com as a Preferred Source
The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) announced a major relief measure for airline companies on Tuesday. The aviation regulator, DGCA, has announced a temporary relaxation in the Flight Duty Time Limitations (FDTL) for pilots operating long-haul flights. A senior official shared this information on Tuesday. Asangba Chuba Ao, Joint Secretary at the Ministry of Civil Aviation, stated during a press conference that the DGCA has taken this step with the objective of ensuring pilot availability for smooth flight operations.
DGCA Had Framed New Rules Last Year
To address the issue of pilot fatigue, the DGCA had implemented changes to its regulations last year. Under the new rules, the weekly flight duty time limit for pilots was reduced. According to these new regulations, it is mandatory to provide pilots with a continuous rest period of 48 hours, whereas the previous limit stood at 36 hours.
IndiGo Failed Miserably to Plan According to New DGCA Norms
Following the implementation of new regulations, in December 2025, India’s largest airline—IndiGo—faced severe operational challenges due to a critical shortage of pilots. Stemming from issues caused by lapses in crew roster management, IndiGo cancelled thousands of flights in December 2025, subjecting hundreds of thousands of passengers to a host of severe hardships.
Regulator Increases Flight Time and Flight Duty Period Limits
Sources within the PTI had previously reported that the DGCA had granted certain relaxations regarding the Flight Duty Time Limitations (FDTL) for pilots, effective until April 30. According to these sources, these relaxations were specifically granted for long-haul flights operated by a two-pilot crew. They further explained that the DGCA has increased the ‘Flight Time’ (FT) limit by 1 hour and 30 minutes, raising it to 11 hours and 30 minutes, and has extended the ‘Flight Duty Period’ (FDP) by 1 hour and 45 minutes, bringing it to 11 hours and 45 minutes. ‘Flight Time’ refers to the duration spanning from the moment the aircraft first moves for the purpose of taking off, until the moment it comes to a complete halt at the conclusion of the flight.
