Air India to verify pilot's fatigue reports, to classify as 'sick' if found unsubstantial

Air India is making numerous changes in its policy framework as well as employee well-being ahead of the Vistara merger. One such internal policy that is likely to take effect starting October 2024 is the verification of fatigue reports submitted by flight crew members. 

Air India's senior vice president of Safety, Security, and Quality, Henry Donohoe has approved of this policy which will classify such reports as sick leave if they are found to be unsubstantial. 

Pilot Concerns Over the New Policy

Obviously, pilots are unhappy about the new policy and have raised concerns, as it might discourage them from reporting fatigue altogether, reports Business Standard. 

Mathrubhumi could not independently verify the report.

"We may hesitate to report 'fatigue' if it risks being classified as sick leave,” voiced one pilot while speaking to media. 

"This policy needs to be reconsidered. Rather than questioning whether a pilot is experiencing 'fatigue' or is 'sick,' the airline should extend trust to its pilots in all areas," said another pilot. 

A few days back the minister of civil aviation Ram Mohan Naidu had stressed the importance of efficient pilot fatigue management and stress management in aviation to ensure flight safety. 

Revised DGCA Flight Duty Regulations

Earlier this year, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) had revised flight duty regulations after analyzing data and feedback from airlines, pilot associations, and individuals. 

As per the revised regulations it is mandatory to increase the weekly rest periods for flight crew from 36 to 48 hours providing them ample time to rest and recover from cumulative fatigue. 

The definition of night has also been modified in the revised regulations, including a one-hour extension in the early morning, to ensure adequate rest.

The revised regulations also impose restrictions on maximum flight time and maximum flight duty periods during operations during night, eyeing operations across different time zones. 

The DGCA has set the limits at 8 hours of flight time and 10 hours of flight duty. Additionally, the number of landings during night operations is now limited to two.

The DGCA has further mandated all airlines to submit quarterly fatigue reports after analysis including details of the Action Taken based on the analysis. Furthermore, a non-punitive and confidentiality policy is stipulated for these fatigue reports.

According to DGCA, the fatigue reports are formal documents filed by flight crew members to indicate excessive tiredness that may compromise their performance.

Fatigue Reporting Procedure

In response to various queries Air India has clarified that the new Fatigue Protocol aligns with global best practices and is a non-punitive measure. 

Besides, the airline will use scientific tools such as Jeppesen and the Boeing Alertness Model (BAM) to safeguard crew well-being.

Going ahead, suppose a crew member reports fatigue within 12 hours of their scheduled duty, the report will be noted as 'Fatigue', leading to immediate escalation by the day-to-day scheduling management and flight safety departments

In March 2024, Air India faced a fine of INR 80-lakh for violation of rules relating to flight duty time limitations (FDTL) and fatigue management system (FMS) for pilots, DGCA said that the airline was also found deficient in providing adequate weekly rest, sufficient rest before and after ultra-long- flights, and enough rest on layover to flight crew.