Context: India’s aviation regulator Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) introduced changes to the flight duty time limitations (FDTL) including more rest for pilots, redefining night duty and mandating airlines to file regular fatigue reports.
About Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA)
- Nodal Ministry: Ministry of Civil Aviation.
- Body: It became a statutory body under the Aircraft (Amendment) Act, 2020.
- Aim: To regulate civil aviation in the field of Civil Aviation primarily dealing with safety issues.
- Functions: It is responsible for regulation of air transport services to/from/within India and for enforcement of civil air regulations, air safety and airworthiness standards.
- It also co-ordinates all regulatory functions with International Civil Aviation Organisation
- Registration of civil aircraft
- Licensing to pilots, aircraft maintenance engineers, air traffic controllers and flight engineers, and conducting examinations and checks for that purpose.
- Checks on the proficiency of flight crew and other operational personnel such as flight dispatchers and cabin crew