Pilots urge rollback of extended hours for Boeing 787 flights over fatigue risk

The Airline Pilots' Association of India (ALPA) has urged the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) to withdraw the recent extension of flight duty time limits (FDTL) for Boeing 787 two-pilot operations, citing fatigue and security concerns. It has also called for mandatory three-member crews on long-haul or night flights and a comprehensive fatigue risk assessment before any further relaxations are approved.

The pilots' body stated that the extension of duty time from 10 hours to 10 and a half hours, and of flight duty periods from 13 hours to 14 hours, represents "a matter of grave operational and safety concern regarding the recent decision to extend the already stretched FDTL for Boeing 787 two-man flight crew operations."

It demanded the DGCA to immediately withdraw the FDTL extension and advised a three-member pilot crew for all flights exceeding eight hours, citing the need to address fatigue risks associated with longer duty periods and circadian disruptions.

The call for action is closely tied to recent safety measures by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) in the US, which mandates restriction of the captain’s seat recline function on the Boeing 787 due to safety concerns.

ALPA India highlighted that this restriction "has had a direct and severe impact on crew rest quality during flight."

"The inability to recline the seat significantly reduces the effectiveness of in-flight rest, particularly during long sectors," it added.

ALPA urged regulators to implement further protective measures "until the corrective seat modification is implemented, suggesting that enhanced crew requirements should stay in place until technical solutions are applied.

The pilots' body further asked the DGCA to "conduct a comprehensive fatigue risk assessment in consultation with flight crew representatives before approving any further deviation from established limits."

The pilots' association warned that the regulatory move "strikes at the heart of flight safety."

"If left unaddressed, it exposes not only the operating crew but also passengers and the travelling public to unnecessary and preventable risk," the ALPA warned.

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