FIP seeks tighter fatigue rules after pilot deaths

The Federation of Indian Pilots (FIP) has urged aviation authorities to immediately end airline exemptions and fully implement updated flight safety standards following a series of sudden pilot deaths.

According to an ANI report, FIP highlighted six pilot deaths during duty cycles between November 2023 and September 2026, including the recent death of an Air India captain during training in Delhi and a fatal cardiac arrest during a layover in Bali.

The federation urged the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) to immediately revoke all operator-specific Flight Duty Time Limitation (FDTL) dispensations, warning that temporary exemptions have evolved into permanent safety risks.

“While FIP does not seek to establish any direct causal link between fatigue and the individual fatalities referred to in the representation, we believe that these events warrant an urgent and comprehensive review of fatigue exposure, rostering practices, recovery opportunities, medical surveillance, and FRMS effectiveness across Indian aviation operations,” the letter stated.

FIP called for the establishment of a National Fatigue Risk Management System (FRMS) Oversight Programme involving sleep scientists, medical experts, pilot bodies, and regulators.

FIP also emphasised that India’s rapid aviation market growth, high aircraft utilisation, red-eye flights, and early-morning schedules require proactive, data-driven fatigue management rather than relying solely on hours-based regulations.

“The objective of FDTL regulations is not merely regulatory compliance but the prevention of cumulative fatigue and the preservation of pilot fitness for duty... FIP is concerned that repeated operator-specific variations and deferred implementation of certain provisions may reduce the effectiveness of the intended fatigue mitigation framework,” the letter read.

The recommendations include mandatory quarterly fatigue reports from airlines, independent reviews of medical trends, and formal pilot representation in future flight safety policy discussions.

Copies of the urgent representation were also sent to the Ministry of Civil Aviation, the Prime Minister’s Office, the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB), and the Parliamentary Standing Committee.