Datanomics: Pilot fatigue a concern in a growing aviation sector

The survey highlighted the impact of frequent tail swaps-when airlines switch the aircraft assigned to a flight

IndiGo’s recent major flight disruptions stem from India’s new Flight Duty Time Limitation rules, designed to combat pilot fatigue by increasing mandatory rest and capping night operations. The 2024 Safety Culture Survey reveals high fatigue among Indian pilots (83 per cent), driven by rapid sector growth, consecutive night flights, and increased workload despite more pilots and aircraft. The average flying hours per pilot in India fell from 407 hours in 2015 to 165 hours in 2020. However, it rebounded to 246 hours in 2024. 

Exhaustion due to changing flight times

 

According to the Safety Culture Survey 2024, 74 per cent