DGCA asks airlines to comply with rules on management of crew fatigue

The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has asked all airline operators to henceforth maintain log entries that would confirm that the cabin crew had interacted on the intercom with the cockpit crew (commander and co-pilot, alternatively) with a gap of not more than 30 minutes.

An official press release issued here today said pilot fatigue had been recognised as a serious safety hazard and one of the contributory factors in accidents and serious incidents.

The DGCA had issued a circular in 2009 on the subject in which it had suggested that the airlines introduce a procedure wherein the cabin crew should interact with pilots at half an hour basis, using the intercom, during the period when crew activity is low.

The circular had also said that the pilot should be advised to keep the area speaker on high volume during the low activity period.

In order to ensure that these actions are taken by the crew during the flight, the DGCA had also said that some documentation should be maintained by the operator. It also said that an entry that the area speaker was kept at high volume during the low activity period should be added in the flight report.

The DGCA has issued a fresh direction in this regard and called for strict compliance by all airline operators, the release added.

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