A Director General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) proposal to increase the flight duty time limits (FDTL) of the cabin crew has got the latter huffing and puffing.
A Director General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) proposal to increase the flight duty time limits (FDTL) of the cabin crew has got the latter huffing and puffing. Although the feedback of the crew members is invited by the DGCA till May 7, the verdict is mostly negative.
The proposal which is in its draft stage states that the maximum FDTL on ultra-long range(ULR) flights which is 16 hours, should be increased to 21 hours. The irony is that long haul flights like Mumbai-New York, Mumbai-London does not take more than 15 hours if they are on time.
“If these flights get delayed then we have to work for around 19 hours,” says a flight purser from Jet Airways. “It seems the move is to incorporate the flight delay time into our FDTL,” he says.
It also states that the airline can extend the duty of the crew upto 23 hours provided they provide them horizontal rest facility. In case of exceptional circumstances, the rest can be taken on ground after the aircraft lands. “We will work for 21/23 hours, reach the airport and then spend upto two hours to reach our hotel. That way, we will be working non-stop for 24 hours,” says a cabin crew member of Air India Cabin Crew Association.
What is also disturbing them is the fact that in case the airline operates with minimum crew all the time, how will they get rest on board?
The proposal also states that the flights should have 1.5 times of the minimum crew component on such ULR flights. While other operators on international routes have 19 crew members on such flights, Air India operates with minimum crew .i.e. 12-14.
“If all 12 of us work for 21 hours without adequate rest in between, all will be fatigued till the time we complete our FDTL. What if some emergency takes place? None of us will be fit to handle it,” says a member of Air India Cabin Crew Association.
s_naveeta@dnaindia.net
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