DGCA sets up panel to inquire into IndiGo flight disruptions

• The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has set up a four-member committee to carry out a comprehensive review and assessment of the circumstances that led to the massive flight disruptions.

• IndiGo, the country’s largest airline, cancelled more than 550 flights, disrupting the travel plans of hundreds of passengers.

• The airline generally operates around 2,300 flights daily.

• The flight disruptions were primarily due to planning gaps in implementing the second phase of the Flight Duty Time Limitations (FDTL) norms.

• The committee will submit its findings and recommendations to the DGCA within 15 days to enable necessary regulatory enforcement action and ensure institutional strengthening.

• The inquiry will examine what went wrong at Indigo, determine accountability wherever required for appropriate actions, and recommend measures to prevent similar disruptions in the future.

Measures by Ministry of Civil Aviation

• The Ministry of Civil Aviation has taken urgent and proactive measures to address the ongoing disruption in flight schedules. 

• The ministry has placed the FDTL orders of the DGCA in abeyance with immediate effect. 

• This decision has been taken in the interest of passengers, especially senior citizens, students, patients, and others who rely on timely air travel for essential needs.

• In addition to this, several operational measures have been directed to ensure that normal airline services are restored at the earliest and that the inconvenience caused to travellers is significantly reduced.

Revised FDTL rules

• The flight cancellations were primarily due to the implementation of revised Flight Duty Time Limitations (FDTL) norms introduced by DGCA, which went into full enforcement by November 1.

• FDTL specifies duty time, flight duty time, flight time limits and rest period requirements.

• The rules were introduced to ensure aviation safety with reference to global aviation norms. Fatigue is considered a significant operational risk, especially for early morning departures and night landings.

• The current chaos within Indigo was a direct result of the FDTL rules clashing with the rosters of the crew. The enforcement revealed gaps in the availability of pilots and crew.

• Amid concerns in certain quarters about relaxing FDTL norms, the DGCA said it is “committed for safety and implementation of FDTL CAR in letter and spirit”.

• CAR refers to Civil Aviation Requirements.

• It prescribes the maximum limits of flight time, flight duty period, duty period and minimum rest period applicable to all cabin crew of scheduled, non-scheduled and scheduled commuter air transport services.