BackPilots’ body to SC: Long flying hours put passengers at risk
Government has set up a panel to review international norms for pilots' flight duty time limitations and submit a report within three months
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New Delhi: The Society for Welfare of Indian Pilots told the Supreme Court on Monday that till date there weren’t sufficient reforms in pilots’ duty timings, which could cause pilot fatigue.
In a contempt petition, lawyer K.T.S. Tulsi told the court the regulations in place put passengers at risk, as Indian flight duty time limitations (FTDL) were 25% higher than international standards. He informed the court that the government had on 19 August set up a committee to review FTDL.
A bench comprising justices Anil R. Dave and L. Nageswara Rao asked the association how the government had been in contempt of the court’s orders.
The government, through additional solicitor general P.S. Narasimha, also argued that there was no reason for a contempt petition as it had implemented revised civil aviation regulations. He said that the government-set up committee was to review international norms for FTDL and submit a report within three months.
The court asked the petitioner to challenge the appropriate regulations, as no case of contempt was made out.
Tulsi then withdrew the contempt petition and asked the court for liberty to pursue the remedies available to challenge the regulations which provided for the FTDL.
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