Working Hours Of Indian Pilots, Leaves Rules And Health Issues
laIndia's aviation regulator, the DGCA, has issued a strict warning to Air India over serious lapses in crew fatigue management and training. The warning follows the airline's own reports highlighting safety violations submitted last month and in 2023, prompting the DGCA to consider strong regulatory action.
The warning comes just days after a tragic incident in Ahmedabad, where one of its Boeing 787 Dreamliner aircraft crashed, claiming 260 lives.
Pilots in India often express concerns about their demanding duties and insufficient rest periods, leading to various health issues, including mental health and fatigue. These concerns have recently come to the forefront.
In four government notices issued on July 23, Air India was reprimanded for repeated non-compliance with safety regulations. The notices cite 29 violations, including inadequate rest for pilots, non-adherence to simulator training requirements, insufficient training for high-altitude airports, and flying international routes with inadequate cabin crew. Violations of weekly rest rules were found in two pilots in June 2024 and one pilot in June 2025, although the exact number of extra hours flown was not disclosed.
Air India Under Scrutiny
DGCA Regulations
DGCA has set specific working hours for pilots, including a maximum flying time of 8 hours during the night (12 midnight to 6 am) and a maximum duty period of 10 hours. Night landings are limited to two instead of six, and weekly leave for pilots has been increased from 36 hours to 48 hours to reduce fatigue. Although these regulations were scheduled for implementation from June 1, 2024, airlines opposed them, leading pilots to seek intervention from the Delhi High Court. Following the court's decision, most rules are set to take effect from July 1, 2025.
Court's Intervention
The Delhi High Court ruled that duty and rest norms for pilots would be effective from July 1, 2025. Pilots will receive two days off per week, and night shift hours have been extended from 12 midnight to 6 am. Pilots cannot be rostered for consecutive night shifts and are limited to two flights during night duty, with a maximum flight time of 8 hours and duty time of 10 hours. Special exemptions for unforeseen circumstances now allow an additional period of use reduced from three hours to two hours.
Pilot Leave Policies
Pilots receive six casual leaves, 12 medical leaves (sick leaves), and 30 privilege leaves (PL) in Air India, with applications for PL required a year in advance. Indigo provides 42 PL to pilots and 22 PL to first officers.
Challenges For Pilots
Over the past decade, low-cost airlines have significantly expanded short-haul international flights, leading to a sharp rise in night operations. At the same time, many carriers have stopped providing hotel rest facilities at destinations. Pilots also complain that duty rosters are not prepared a week in advance as required, and sudden last-minute changes are frequently made.
Stressful Cockpit Environment
Cockpits offer limited space, minimal movement, and constant exposure to air congestion, low lighting, background noise, and vibration. Frequent changes in oxygen pressure force the body to continuously adapt, contributing to heightened fatigue among pilots.
According to a report in The Hindu, an airline spokesperson said they are committed to ensuring the safety and well-being of crew members and have implemented robust fatigue management protocols. However, pilot availability varies across airlines, with some operating with adequate crew and others facing shortages.
Pilot Statistics
As of November 2024, there were 11,775 pilots across the country, operating about 800 aircraft. Air India and Indigo have placed orders for 1,000 aircraft to be delivered by 2035. Air India claims to have over 3,500 pilots, meeting current fleet requirements and DGCA norms on pilot rest and duty hours.
Mental Health Concerns
Pilots face extreme stress and depression due to irregular hours, long shifts, jet lag, and heavy responsibilities. Recent incidents like the Ahmedabad crash have led to an increase in pilots taking sick leave, highlighting mental health concerns.
DGCA has recommended special programmes (such as peer support programmes) to assess and support the mental health of flight crew and air traffic controllers. Excessive work pressure and lack of rest can lead to burnout, physical and mental exhaustion, frustration, and reduced performance.
Fatigue and Sleep Issues
Frequent travel across time zones leads to severe jet lag in pilots, disrupting their sleep cycles and causing fatigue. Some may also suffer from obstructive sleep apnea, a condition in which breathing repeatedly stops during sleep, resulting in excessive daytime drowsiness and a heightened risk of accidents.
The DGCA closely monitors such health issues due to their potential impact on flight safety. Irregular and frequently changing duty hours further disturb pilots' internal body clocks, preventing adequate rest. To address these concerns, the DGCA has recently proposed revised norms for pilot duty and rest hours to ensure better fatigue management.
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Ahmedabad Plane Crash Air India Air Safety crew members DGCA fatigue leave pilots working
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First Published:
July 25, 2025, 19:07 IST
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