Overworked? DGCA Regulates Working Hours Of Air Traffic Services Personnel, Says Can’t Work More Than 12 Hours A Day

Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has mandated that air traffic services personnel can work for a maximum of 12 hours a day in its draft rules, Economic Times has reported.

The proposed rule is part of the Civil Aviation Requirement (CAR) draft on 'watch duty time limitations and rest requirements of air traffic services personnel engaged in air traffic services'.

This is the first time that the DGCA has attempted to regulate the working hours of air traffic services (ATS) personnel. The move comes at a time when air traffic has been on the rise.

"The aggregate of duty period will not exceed 50 hours within a defined period of 144 consecutive hours or six consecutive days”, as per the draft norms. At airports having round-the-clock-operations, ATS personnel will get at least half an hour break after two hours of duty.

DGCA has also proposed rules for night duties of ATS employees. It has said that night duty should be restricted to 12 hours with a ceiling of three consecutive duties at a time. Presently, the licensing is done by Airports Authority of India (AAI).

The Civil Aviation Ministry has also started the process to entrust licensing of air traffic controllers to the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA). This exercise is to ensure compliance with International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) norms.