DGCA Drafts Duty and Rest Guidelines for Cabin Crew
The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), India’s aviation safety regulator, has released a draft proposal outlining duty and rest time norms for cabin crew. The draft sets specific limits on maximum flight duty periods, number of permitted landings, and minimum rest durations, particularly when flying across multiple time zones.
Flight Duty and Landing Limits
- For 11-hour flight duty, a maximum of six landings is allowed.
- For 11.5-hour duty, the landing limit is five.
- For up to 12 hours of duty, a maximum of four landings is allowed.
- A 12.5-hour duty can include only three landings.
- With 9 hours of flying and 14 hours of total duty, only two landings are allowed.
- For 10 hours of flying and a 15-hour duty period, only one landing is permitted.
Definition of Duty Period
As per the guidelines, the cabin crew duty period starts from the moment they are asked to report for duty and ends when they are relieved of all responsibilities. The maximum duty period within any 24-hour timeframe shall not exceed the flight duty period limit by more than one hour.
Mandatory Rest Periods
The DGCA has clearly stated that crew members must receive a rest period equal to their previous duty duration before the next assignment. Additional mandatory rest is required when crossing time zones:
- 3 time zones crossed: 12 hours rest
- Up to 7 time zones: 18 hours rest
- More than 7 time zones: 36 hours rest
These draft rules are designed to ensure crew well-being and improve overall flight safety standards in India’s aviation industry.