Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA)

Context: Recently, Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has introduced changes to Flight Duty Time Limitations (FDTL) to reduce pilot fatigue in a professional and scientific manner. This is in pursuance with the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) established guidelines in the 1950s to limit flight and duty hours for safety which is evolving to include Fatigue Risk Management Systems.

Need for Changes:

• The changes are intended to provide more rest time for pilots, redefine night duty, and require airlines to file regular fatigue reports, with implementation scheduled by June 1.
• The Indian aviation market is experiencing high growth, leading to increased flying and stress on flight crews, especially with the rise of ultra-long-haul flights and widebody aircraft induction.
• Flight crew fatigue is a significant factor contributing to human errors in aircraft operations and can lead to catastrophic accidents, as well as being dangerous for crew health.
• The DGCA cited incidents of pilot deaths allegedly due to exhaustion while urging airlines to adhere to the new regulations starting from June 1.
• The new rules include extending the mandatory weekly rest period for pilots to 48 hours from the current 36 and reducing night flying by extending the definition of 'night' by an hour and limiting the number of authorized night landings.
• Over time, prioritizing airline economics over safety has led to the lowering of safety standards, allowing pilots to continue facing fatigue-related issues.

Argument of the airlines: 

• Airlines expressed concerns that implementing new rules aimed at better fatigue management would require around 25% more pilots, which they wouldn't be able to hire and train in a short period.

About Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA)

• The Directorate General of Civil Aviation is the regulatory body in the field of Civil Aviation which primarily deals with safety issues. 
• DGCA  is headed by the Director General of Civil Aviation. 
• DGCA has been accorded with statutory status by Aircraft Amendment Act, 2020.
• Directorate General of Civil Aviation is an attached office of the Ministry of Civil Aviation.
• 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 the International Civil Aviation Organisation.
• The headquarters are in New Delhi with regional offices in various parts of India.

Functions carried out by the Directorate General of Civil Aviation:

• Registration of civil aircraft
• Formulation of standards of airworthiness for civil aircraft registered in India and grant of certificates of airworthiness to such aircraft.
• Licensing of pilots, aircraft maintenance engineers, air traffic controllers and flight engineers, and conducting examinations and checks for that purpose.
• Certification of aerodromes.
• Maintaining a check on the proficiency of flight crew, and of other operational personnel such as flight dispatchers and cabin crew.
• Granting of Air Operator’s Certificates to Indian carriers and regulation of air transport services operating to/from/within/over India by Indian and foreign operators, including clearance of scheduled and non-scheduled flights of such operators.
• Conducting investigation into incidents and serious incidents involving aircraft up to 2250 kg AUW and taking accident prevention measures including formulation of implementation of Safety Aviation Management Programmes.
• Carrying out amendments to the Aircraft Act, the Aircraft Rules, and the Civil Aviation Requirements for complying with the amendments to ICAO Annexes and initiating proposals for amendment to any other Act or for passing a new Act in order to give effect to an international Convention or amendment to an existing Convention.
• Coordination of ICAO matters with all agencies and sending replies to State Letters and taking all necessary action arising out of the Universal Safety Oversight Audit Programme (USOAP) of ICAO.
• Approval of institutes engaged in flying training including simulator training, AME training, air traffic services training or any other training related with aviation, with a view to ensuring a high quality of training. 
• Granting approval to aircraft maintenance, repair, design and manufacturing organizations and their continued oversight.
• To act as a nodal agency for implementing Annex 9 provisions in India and for coordinating matters relating to facilitation at Indian airports including holding meetings of the National Facilitation Committee.
• Rendering advice to the Government on matters relating to air transport including bilateral air services agreements, on ICAO matters and generally on all technical matters relating to civil aviation, and to act as an overall regulatory and developmental body for civil aviation in the country.
• Regulation and oversight of matters related to Air Navigation Services. Coordination at national level for flexi-use of air space by civil and military air traffic agencies and interaction with ICAO for provision of more air routes for civil use through Indian air space.
• Keeping a check on aircraft noise and engine emissions in accordance with ICAO Annex 16 and collaborating with the environmental authorities in this matter, if required.
• Promoting indigenous design and manufacture of aircraft and aircraft components by acting as a catalytic agent.
• Approving training programmes of operators for carriage of dangerous goods, issuing authorizations for carriage of dangerous goods, etc. 
• Safety Oversight of all entities approved/ certified/ licensed under the Aircraft Rules 1937.