Bombay High Court stays DGCA circular extending pilot duty hours
02 Jul 2008
Mumbai: The Bombay High Court on Tuesday provided some relief to the country's pilots by staying a Director General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) order, which sought to make effective rules imposing longer duty hours on pilots. The older rules date from the year 1992 and would have replaced current rules framed in 2007.
Pilots favour current rules, as these are more rational. The Court's stay order would remain in force till it makes a final ruling on the matter.
A division bench of Justices SB Mhase and Ashutosh Kumbhkoni had admitted a petition filed by three pilot associations last week. The petition challenged the DGCA's decision to keep the 2007 rules in abeyance and revert to 1992 rules.
In their petition pilots claimed that reverting to old rules would mean longer duty hours, which would lead to fatigued crew and also pose danger to the safety of aircraft.
Petitioners comprised associations of pilots from Air India, Indian Airlines and Jet Airways.
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