October 27, 2025

In a bold move to keep skies safe, the pilots’ union ALPA India has raised a big red flag on DGCA’s recent decision. The regulator extended flight duty hours for Boeing 787 Dreamliner pilots – from 10 to 10.30 hours for duty time, and from 13 to 14 hours for the full duty period. But ALPA India says this is a slippery slope leading to tired pilots and risky flights! Imagine flying long hours with less rest—who wouldn't feel exhausted and unfocused? The Airline Pilots' Association of India strongly argues that the original rules were made after “extensive research and scientific study on human fatigue.” This sudden change, they warn, “gives the impression that the DGCA is placing greater consideration on operator convenience and commercials rather than prioritising the core objective of flight safety.” Ouch! Adding drama, ALPA India references a US FAA directive that restricts how much the Boeing 787 captain’s seat can recline, messing with pilots’ rest quality during flights. With poor rest and longer duty hours, pilots risk making fatal mistakes. Were these concerns enough? Not for DGCA, it seems. ALPA India calls for a full “fatigue risk assessment” before any such safety-compromising changes go ahead. They also point fingers at the timing: “Extending duty hours instead of mandating an augmented crew, particularly so soon after a recent fatal accident, raises serious questions about the prioritisation of flight safety over operational costs and convenience.” Why so serious? Just look at June 12, when Air India’s Dreamliner tragically crashed right after takeoff from Ahmedabad, killing 260 people. The pilots’ body says operating long routes with limited rest—especially with tough weather and night flying—“creates a scenario ripe for fatigue-induced errors.” Could this rule change have prevented that disaster? ALPA India sure doesn’t think so. As Air India’s Dreamliners continue to fly the skies, ALPA India’s urgent plea echoes in the corridors of DGCA: rethink the flight hours, respect pilot rest, and never put commercial convenience over passenger safety. Who wants a tired pilot in the cockpit when their life is in the balance?

Read More at Economictimes →

Tags: Alpa india, Dgca, Boeing 787 dreamliner, Flight duty hours, Pilot fatigue, Air india crash,