Cabin crew not treated on par with pilots while assessing fatigue: Plea in HC

A body representing airline cabin crew members today moved the Delhi High Court claiming that aviation regulator DGCA's draft regulations on flight duty timings and rest does not treat them on par with pilots while assessing fatigue.

A bench of Acting Chief Justice Gita Mittal and Justice C Hari Shankar allowed the All India Cabin Crew Association (AICCA) to be made a party in a PIL by a Kerala-based lawyer.

The lawyer has claimed that fatigue of pilots and the air crew can be dangerous to the safety of a flight and its passengers.

The court also issued notice in the application by the association and listed it for hearing on September 20.

The AICCA, represented by advocate Sanjoy Ghose, has raised concerns regarding the draft civil aviation requirement (CAR) of May 14 this year, claiming that it does not treat cabin crew on par with pilots.

The association has also said the earlier CAR on flight duty time limitations (FDTLs) by the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) had the lowest rest periods when compared with other countries.

It has said even alertness of cabin crew was important as they, too, assist passengers in emergency situations.

The DGCA in an affidavit in the matter has claimed that it carries out proper risk assessment before granting any variation to the stipulated FDTLs.

However, the petitioner -- Yashwanth Shenoy -- has alleged that it was a false statement and has moved an application seeking action for perjury against the DGCA official who filed the affidavit.

The court had on May 22 said the DGCA had the power to grant the airlines an exemption from the stipulated FDTLs of pilots, but "not as a matter of routine".