India’s aviation sector has been drawn into a major safety debate after the Airline Pilots’ Association of India (ALPA) raised strong objections to the Directorate General of Civil Aviation’s (DGCA) decision to extend flight duty time limits (FDTL) for Boeing 787 two-pilot operations. The association has warned that the new rules could endanger both crew and passenger safety by increasing fatigue among pilots operating long-haul routes.
In a formal letter to the DGCA, ALPA expressed “grave operational and safety concerns” over the regulator’s recent relaxation that allows Boeing 787 pilots to operate for up to 10.5 hours — half an hour longer than the earlier cap of 10 hours — and to undertake flight duty periods extending up to 14 hours. According to the association, these changes stretch human limits and could have serious implications for flight safety, particularly in overnight or ultra-long-haul operations.
The pilots’ union has demanded that the DGCA immediately reverse the decision and reinstate the previous limits. It has also urged the regulator to make a third pilot mandatory on all flights exceeding eight hours in duration or operated during night-time schedules. ALPA argues that extended duty hours without adequate rest provisions could significantly increase the risk of pilot fatigue, impairing alertness, decision-making, and reaction time — all critical factors in aviation safety.
Citing international developments, ALPA linked its concerns to recent directives from the US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), which has ordered restrictions on the captain’s seat recline function on Boeing 787 aircraft due to safety concerns. The recline function, used by pilots to rest during in-flight breaks, has reportedly been disabled temporarily after mechanical issues were detected.
According to ALPA India, this technical restriction “has had a direct and severe impact on crew rest quality during flight.” The inability of pilots to recline their seats, especially during rest breaks on long-haul flights, has compromised recovery and alertness. “The inability to recline the seat significantly reduces the effectiveness of in-flight rest, particularly during long sectors,” the association stated. It emphasized that without proper rest facilities, extending duty hours only increases cumulative fatigue.
The association has urged the DGCA to introduce interim protective measures until Boeing provides a technical solution to the seat issue. It suggested that enhanced crew requirements — specifically three-pilot rosters — be made mandatory until normal rest conditions are restored.
ALPA has also called for a full “fatigue risk assessment” to be conducted in consultation with flight crew representatives before any further deviation from international norms or established limits is approved. It stressed that the DGCA must adopt a scientific, data-driven approach to assessing fatigue risk, rather than relying on administrative or operational convenience.
Fatigue management has long been a contentious issue in the aviation industry, balancing operational efficiency with human limitations. Globally, regulators such as the FAA and the European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) base their FDTL frameworks on extensive fatigue science, including studies of circadian rhythms and sleep deprivation effects on pilot performance.
Indian pilots have often voiced concerns that existing FDTL norms already push them close to physical and cognitive limits. The new extension, they argue, adds further strain without addressing the need for proper rest, recovery, and crew rotation systems.
In its concluding remarks, ALPA issued a stern warning, calling the DGCA’s decision “a move that strikes at the heart of flight safety.” It said that if fatigue-related risks are not adequately addressed, the policy “exposes not only the operating crew but also passengers and the travelling public to unnecessary and preventable risk.”
The DGCA has yet to issue a formal response, but officials familiar with the matter said the regulator is reviewing feedback from multiple stakeholders, including airlines and crew unions. Airlines, meanwhile, have defended the move as necessary to optimize long-haul operations, though they insist that rest periods and rostering practices remain compliant with safety standards.
The debate underscores a larger challenge for India’s fast-growing aviation industry — how to expand global connectivity and operational efficiency without compromising safety and pilot welfare. With the country emerging as one of the world’s largest aviation markets, industry observers believe this issue could set an important precedent for how India balances commercial ambition with its commitment to aviation safety.
