DGCA can grant exemptions from flight duty limits, but not as routine: HC

The Delhi High Court today said the aviation regulator, DGCA, had the power to grant the airline companies an exemption from the stipulated flight duty time limitations (FDTLs) of pilots, but "not as a matter of routine".

A bench of Acting Chief Justice Gita Mittal and Justice C Hari Shankar gave the ruling on pleas filed by Air India and the Federation of Indian Airlines (FIA), seeking modification of the high court's April 18 direction to the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) not to permit variations in FDTLs.

The FIA represents private carriers Jet Airways, IndiGo, SpiceJet and GoAir.

The court directed the DGCA to indicate its stand on the applications.

The regulator was also asked to place on record the applications of airlines seeking exemptions or variations in FDTLs from December 1 last year till date and the orders passed by the DGCA in each case.

"Under Rule 133A(4) of the Aircraft Rules, the DGCA stands empowered to grant exemptions," the court said, adding, "Prima facie, we have no doubt that neither any exemption to prescriptions under the Civil Aviation Requirement (CAR) nor any variation thereof can be given as a matter of routine."