NEW DELHI: Aviation authorities have begun the process of determining how many flights — both domestic and international — will operate this summer. DGCA will weigh in pilot availability while approving summer schedules, effective March 29 to avoid a crisis like the one seen by IndiGo two months ago.Determining pilot availability, however, is proving to be a tightrope walk as all major Indian carriers have got regulatory exemption from certain clauses of flight duty time limitation (FDTL) rules for cockpit crew. These exemptions lapse next month end. Airlines have sought an extension for the same and DGCA is reviewing their requests.

Airlines’ ability to operate any given number of flights will depend on that decision. Withdrawing FDTL exemptions will mean fewer flights in peak summer travel season, higher fares and public outcry — something govt will be keen to avoid. And extending them will lead to concerns over fatigued crew stretching themselves, something that affects flight safety.Air India, for instance, has been taking longer routes on its flights to and from the West due to geopolitical reasons. As per rules, they need three pilots for flights that are over 10 hours long. Since all flights between north India (Delhi being AI’s primary hub) and the West are impacted due to Pakistan airspace closure, they have an exemption for having two pilots on flights that take up to 10.5 hours. “Due to infra crunch, IndiGo and Akasa mostly get night slots at busy hubs in India. They have sought exemption from nighttime utilisation of pilots as otherwise the number of flights will not grow to cope with rising traffic but decline,” said a person in the know. Pilots said the current situation has arisen primarily due to the fact that airlines have almost always had their way with the DGCA for getting exemptions. “Airlines went slow on pilot hiring and career progression of pilots to keep their wage bill in check… Fatigue and inhuman rosters had become a reality till everyone was forced to wake up,” said a senior captain. IndiGo and AI recently resumed hiring at trainee first officer-level after almost 1.5 years.