Indian airlines shouldn't gamble with stricter safety

Indian pilots are exhausted, battling erratic schedules, consecutive latenight departures and excessive hours.

- TIM CULPAN

Yet airlines are pushing back against new rules from the aviation regulator that mandate longer breaks and shorter work hours for cockpit crew. Fearful of higher costs and restricted operations, carriers want to delay implementation. They shouldn't.

Instead, India's aviation industry needs to embrace these rules quickly with the understanding that safer skies and a greater emphasis on working conditions can only help business and lure more customers. The pain of tighter working hours will be short-lived, but the benefits will be enduring.

Released in January are mandates that weekly rest periods be increased to 48 hours from 36 hours to allow recovery from accumulated fatigue. Maximum flight times have also been cut and the definition of night duty - when reduced work times are enforced - will be broadened. The Federation of India Airlines, which represents carriers including Air India, IndiGo, SpiceJet and Vistara, said last week that these new stipulations are the world's most restrictive. They will require 25 per cent more pilots, and may result in the cancellation of up to 20 per cent of flights, The Economic Times reported. The new rules are to go in effect June 1. Airlines believe it'll be almost impossible to comply on time and want that pushed back by a year.