The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has told airlines that no variations to pilot duty and rest rules will be allowed from March 2027, when the second phase of the Flight Duty Time Limitations (FDTL), takes full effect, persons aware of the matter said.
This time, airlines have been directed to plan their crew rosters and operations to comply with the regulations, one of the people cited above added. The FDTL rules prescribe limits on pilots’ flight duty periods, night operations and consecutive duties, and specify minimum rest requirements, to address pilot fatigue and improve flight safety. “Concerns were raised over several provisions of the FDTL Civil Aviation Requirements (CAR), including those relating to night duty, consecutive night duties, minimum rest periods and weekly rest.
The rules were due to be implemented since November 2025 and deferred after IndiGo ’s operational collapse roiled India’s aviation sector. The first of two phases took effect on July 1, 2025. The second, largely relating to night operations, was to take effect on November 1, 2025, but was deferred for all airlines after IndiGo’s operational collapse. Pilot bodies filed a contempt petition in the Delhi High Court in December 2025, after the variations were given on FDTL CAR, over the implementation of its order requiring the DGCA to bring the norms into force in two phases: 15 of the 22 clauses from July 1, 2025, and the remaining seven from November 1, 2025.
A clarity was also sought on the legal implications of changes to the regulations, particularly in view of proceedings pending before the Delhi High Court ,” a senior official aware of the matter, who asked not to be named, said.
