Air Traffic Controllers not to work over 200 hours in 30 days: DGCA

No person engaged in air traffic control services should work for more than 12 hours at a stretch, and not more than 50 hours in six days, after which there should be a compulsory weekly off, said the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), which has the task of regulating ATC officials. The Air Traffic Controllers (ATCs) should also not work for more than 200 hours in a period of 30 days.

The Ministry of Civil Aviation had earlier this year said DGCA will be asked to do licensing job of ATC staff after the International Civil Aviation Organisation Organisation (ICAO) ranked India poorly in the safety audit early this year leaving India behind countries like Pakistan, Nepal and Bangladesh.

The DGCA has now prepared draft watch duty time limitations and rest requirements of ATC personnels engaged in air traffic services. It has sought comments on the same by January 9, 2019.

The DGCA, in the draft civil aviation requirement (CAR), states, "The duty period shall not exceed 12 hours. The aggregate of duty hours shall not exceed 50 hours within a defined period of 144 consecutive hours or 6 consecutive days."

On Night Duty

DGCA said there should be not more than three consecutive night duties. “A minimum 48 hours shall occur between the end of duties which cover all or part of night duty and the commencement of the next duty,” it said