Captain MR Wadia, Founder President of the Federation of Indian Pilots, explained that violations have indeed occurred across airlines. He said pilots who highlighted breaches in flight and duty time norms and insisted on adhering to safety standards have, in several cases, faced termination.
The latest wave of flight cancellations by IndiGo has put the spotlight back on pilot fatigue, manpower planning, and the broader safety culture within the aviation sector.
While IndiGo has drawn significant attention for its operational disruptions, veteran aviator Captain MR Wadia, Founder President of the Federation of Indian Pilots, says the real issue goes beyond a single airline.
He argues that India’s aviation regulator must prioritise safety over commercial convenience. He stresses that flight and duty time limitations (FDTL) are scientifically established global norms, yet are frequently diluted or adjusted to minimise passenger inconvenience — a practice he warns is fundamentally unsafe.
In an interaction with CNBC-TV18, Captain Wadia explains why FDTL rules are non-negotiable, how safety concerns raised by pilots often go unheard, and why India must strengthen its regulatory oversight to match international standards.
This is the edited excerpt of the interview.
Q: How do you assess the current situation at Indigo? Is this a manpower-management failure, or is there a deeper issue related to pilot fatigue across the industry?
A: This isn’t limited to IndiGo — it affects all airlines. A key point many people are unaware of is that safety comes first, and the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has repeatedly altered flight and duty time limitations (FDTL). These limits are not mandated by DGCA; they are based on extensive research on day and night operations and are mandated by international bodies. Unfortunately, in India, commercial considerations often override safety. FDTL norms are not for pilot comfort — they are a critical safety requirement. These cannot be altered.
If pilots are unavailable because they have reached FDTL limits, that is perfectly acceptable. Safety cannot be compromised, and no one should be blamed for adhering to these limits.
Q: But what happens next? On one hand, passengers need to travel, airports are overcrowded, and there is uncertainty. The DGCA is asking for clarifications. How should this situation be handled?
A: Think about the question again — most concerns are about inconvenience to passengers, flights, and airports. But safety must always come first. No amount of inconvenience can take precedence over mandated flight and duty time limits.
If airports are crowded and flights are delayed, these are operational issues that airlines must address by hiring more staff, ensuring adequate crew strength, and increasing fleet availability. But FDTL norms must never be compromised.
Q: Were these limits being compromised earlier? There haven’t been any major incidents recently.
A: There have been many incidents. In some cases, when pilots pointed out FDTL violations and insisted on following safety norms, they were even terminated. Engineers and cabin crew who flagged safety issues have also faced action. I won’t share names, but these are facts. Safety can never be compromised.
Q: Such standoffs have happened before, and they fade from public memory once resolved. What must be done to ensure this doesn’t repeat? Ultimately, passengers suffer the most.
A: Pilots are not “squabbling” with airlines. They are simply insisting that safety norms be followed. They are not demanding luxury or extra holidays — they want adherence to the rules that protect lives. For years, the DGCA lacked adequate technical expertise. When I founded the Federation of Indian Pilots, the DGCA didn’t have a single aviator on staff. While things have improved, we are still not at international standards. Strong safety standards significantly reduce accident rates. Safety must always come first.
Q: How do India’s accident rates compare globally?
A: The government and DGCA themselves have shared figures that are not encouraging. Globally, the accident rate averages 1.5 hull losses per million departures — a number that has plateaued because further reduction is difficult. Equipment-related issues have come down significantly over the years, from about 80% to below 20%. Countries with strong, independent safety boards have accident rates between 0.4 and 0.5 per million departures. India’s rate used to be very high. It has improved but still needs significant progress.
Q: Finally, what are the non-negotiables for an airline like IndiGo over the next 24–48 hours to stabilise operations?
A: Whether it’s 24 hours or 10 years, FDTL norms are non-negotiable. They exist for aviation safety and cannot be overridden — even if passengers face inconvenience. In the past, the DGCA has issued dispensations to relax these limits for operational reasons, but such deviations are unsafe. No authority can exceed globally accepted FDTL limits, which are based on extensive scientific research. Safety must remain the top priority, always.
