Getting an answer to this simple question is more difficult than you can imagine, as the DGCA is unable to track pilots with absolute accuracy within the current system
Getting an answer to this simple question is more difficult than you can imagine, as the DGCA is unable to track pilots with absolute accuracy within the current system
The next time you fly, remember that the efficiency of your pilot is as much of a mystery to you as it is to the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA).
Grappling with an alarming shortage of manpower, the aviation authority is unable to track the license validity of all pilots, their medical fitness details and flight duty timings all crucial aspects of safe piloting with absolute accuracy.
DGCA officials revealed almost all spot-checks conducted by them threw up cases of violations of flight duty timing limitations (FDTL) or pilot fitness norms.
The situation became more grim in July 2007 after pilots refused to accept a new DGCA civil aviation requirement (CAR) that gave them more rest than stipulated in the previous FDTL rule.
Though the new rule took into account the Circadian Rhythms (the sleep/wake cycle), the pilots moved the court and got a stay order, thus, reverting to the original rule.
Change in the air?
But now with experts, airlines and pilots rooting for a modern system, this could soon change.
Airlines now plan to migrate from the present manual system to an improvised, automated system.
If their proposal (see box) goes through, pilots flying in India will have to swipe cards containing all the essential details before embarking on a flight.
A senior commander with Jet Airways said, "With the airline operations in India increasing rapidly, regulating pilots' fitness to fly will pose bigger challenges than ever.
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It will be possible to monitor them effectively only with the use of scientific and innovative methodology."
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Members of the Indian Commercial Pilots Association (ICPA), comprising Air India pilots, are also backing the modernisation.
Data control
Said Naseem Zaidi, director general, DGCA, "We are evaluating various ideas, including having a swipe card, because airlines have not been able to maintain proper pilot flying data."
Aviation expert Vipul Saxena, who suggested that the DGCA consider the option of issuing a "Plastic Pilots License cum FDTL card", said, "This way, all the parameters especially the FDTL hours will get updated automatically."
New system proposed
The card issued to pilots should be swiped on two occasions.
The card will first be swiped at the check-in counter against a reader connected to the DGCA and the airline server, which will be loaded with the pilot's license validity, medical fitness the balance FDTL hours after last flight, among other details.
Upon swiping, the reader will generate an approval slip, which will be essential to board the aircraft.
The card will then be swiped after the flight against a reader installed inside the aircraft, which will provide actual flight time details.
The card will automatically deduct the flight duration plus 45 minutes for before and 15 minutes for after the flight, as per the FDTL rules.
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