DGCA to Establish Committee to Revise Medical Standards for Indian Pilots

The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) is set to form a committee tasked with revising the medical parameters for pilots operating civilian aircraft in India, in accordance with the recommendations of the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO). This move follows concerns raised by the Airline Pilots Association of India (ALPA) regarding inconsistencies between current medical evaluations and international standards.

In a recent meeting at DGCA headquarters in New Delhi, ALPA highlighted that the medical assessments conducted at the regulator’s empanelled centres do not align with ICAO guidelines. The association, which represents over 1,000 Indian pilots both domestically and abroad, called for updated guidelines to improve safety and uphold pilot rights.

Pilot safety concerns extend beyond medical standards. Captain Anil Rao, ALPA’s General Secretary, raised issues over the extension of flight duty timings, which he warned compromise safety and infringe on pilot rights. He explained that the interpretation of Flight Duty Time Limitations (FDTL) by airlines was flawed, with weekly rest provisions misunderstood, fatigue being incorrectly marked as sick leave, and FDTL extensions surpassing Civil Aviation Requirements (CAR). Additionally, early morning duties were scheduled immediately after pilots returned from sick or casual leave.

In response, DGCA has committed to organising a meeting with the Flight Safety Department and airline operators to ensure adherence to CAR regulations.

The association also expressed concerns about pilots receiving show-cause notices and penalties under Rule 67A due to discrepancies in the eGCA records, which are linked to digital pilot logbooks. ALPA clarified that it is the responsibility of the operators to input duty and training data, not the pilots themselves.

Furthermore, ALPA called for the abolition of hefty fines, up to Rs 75,000, imposed for delay in entering logbook data. The regulator has promised a review of this issue with the relevant authorities.

Lastly, the association requested that it be granted the status of a permanent invitee in all investigations pertaining to pilots, and observer status during AAIB investigations to ensure pilot representation and fair oversight.