Air India Fined $95,000 for Breaching Flight Duty Time Regulations

India’s civil aviation regulator has levied a fine of more than $95,000 against flag carrier Air India for allegedly breaching several flight time limitations rules governing its pilots.

Flight Time Limitations (FTL) rules, which dictate the allowable working hours for pilots and the required rest periods between flights, are standard across the globe. Recently, India’s Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) raised the minimum weekly rest period for pilots from 36 hours to 48 hours as part of efforts to combat fatigue among aircrew. air india ltd

The DGCA stated, “The analysis of reports and evidence revealed that M/s air india limited
operated flight with both flight crew aged above 60 years flying together in few instances, which is a violation of Sub Rule (2) of Rule 28 A of the Aircraft Rules, 1937.”

Additionally, the regulator noted instances of exceeding duty periods, inaccurately documented training records, and overlapping duties during its audit.

Following these findings, the regulator issued a show cause notice to air india sale
on March 1. Subsequently, due to what it deemed as an unsatisfactory response from the airline, a fine of Rs 80 lakh (approximately $95,000) was imposed.

This penalty comes after another incident earlier in which the aviation regulator fined Air India Rs 30 lakh after an 80-year-old passenger collapsed and died during the air india reservation immigration process on February 12.