TBM Staff - Mumbai
Prolonged flying duties exceeding 10 hours per day, consecutive night shifts, rapidly rotating weekly rosters that disrupt circadian rhythms, and schedules adhering strictly to the minimum mandated rest periods were identified as primary factors contributing to pilot fatigue, according to a recent survey conducted by a non-governmental organisation. The survey, which collected responses from 530 airline pilots in India, mostly captains operating domestic and international flights under six hours, found that about 70% of pilots considered flight duty periods exceeding 10 hours to significantly contribute to fatigue. The survey report published by Safety Matters Foundation noted that India currently allows airlines to schedule pilots for flight duty periods of up to 13 hours within a 24-hour period.
Frequent “tail swaps” further exacerbate the issue of extended duty hours, with 63% of pilots citing this as a contributing factor to fatigue. Tail swaps refer to a change of aircraft where the crew must disembark, proceed to the terminal, and undergo security screening before boarding the next aircraft. The survey highlighted that frequent tail swaps, combined with maximum flight duty, minimum rest, and multiple landings, can significantly increase fatigue. Capt Amit Singh of Safety Matters Foundation stated that the survey findings and recommendations were submitted to the DGCA last week.
In addition to the survey questions, 177 pilots provided comments that shed light on the work-life balance of pilots in India. Roster instability emerged as the primary grievance, with one captain recounting how his airline woke him at 2:30 am to inform him not to report for duty at 5 am to avoid violating the minimum rest period. Other complaints included excessive layovers, with pilots returning home for just one day after working layover flights for 6-7 days. Another pilot noted an increase in errors during landings and take-offs due to fatigue and highlighted issues with airlines not granting leave.
Capt Singh emphasised that fatigue is a significant contributory factor to cardiac disease, noting that the number of Indian pilots declared temporarily or permanently medically unfit has risen in recent years. A tragic incident in August last year, where a 40-year-old IndiGo pilot suffered a cardiac arrest and passed away at Nagpur airport minutes before operating a flight, underscored the severe impact of fatigue. This incident prompted the regulator to review the norms governing maximum permissible duty periods and minimum rest periods for pilots. Although the DGCA issued revised norms with a strict June 1 deadline for implementation, the deadline was withdrawn in March following representations from airlines to the ministry.
