New rules reduce rest period for cabin crew

If the new draft circular introduced by the directorate general of civil aviation (DGCA) regarding flight duty time limit of aircraft crew comes into force, expect even more fatigued personnel to operate your flights.

While the draft allows airlines to make maximum use of manpower, it reduces rest hours of the cabin crew.

The circular on flight duty time limit (FDTL) of airline crew has reduced their rest period. “Under the new circular, there is no provision for horizontal bunker beds to be provided to the cabin crew on ultra-long-haul flights. Only pilots have this privilege now while the cabin crew has to rest on passenger seats, which is bound to leave them tired,” said a cabin crew member from Air India.

“Moreover, if the flight passes through four to seven time zones, the rest period has been reduced to 36 hours from 48 hours,” he said. The cabin crew also feels that their rest period onboard ultra-long flights should be at a stretch rather than be divided into two parts. “The rest period for pilots is eight hours at a stretch but for us it is five hours, and that too divided into two,” he said.

The local night time of the crew has also been reduced by two hours and starts from 10pm to 6am instead of the earlier 8pm to 6am. It is the time the crew spends (rests) at a destination after the flight lands. On a positive note, the airlines have to maintain a record of the crews’ rest period. “This rule already exists but there is no penalty on airlines for not adhering to it,” he said.

One good thing about civil aviation requirement (CAR), which is in the draft stage, is that it gives the crew an option to opt out of a flight if they are feeling fatigued. “The operator will not require a flight crew member to operate if it is known or suspected that the member is fatigued to the extent that safety of the flight may be adversely affected,” it reads.

But how this will be implemented is not clear. “Does this mean the crew has to produce a doctor’s certificate to prove he is fatigued or exhausted?” asked a purser from a leading private airline.

Now, airlines will have to maintain records of crew rest period, but since there is no penalty for maintaining this record, what is the point, ask crew members.