India’s updated FDTL norms, rolled out earlier this year, mark a significant tightening of crew scheduling limits. The most striking change is in weekly rest: pilots in India must receive 48 hours off every week, far higher than the 30 hours mandated in the US and 36 hours in Europe.
The country also applies one of the widest night-flying windows globally. Under the revised rules, night duty covers 12 a.m. to 6 a.m., compared to 2 a.m. starts in the US and Europe, giving Indian pilots more protection during low-alertness hours.
Night duty: Stricter than Europe, more conservative than the US
India caps night duty at 10 hours, while European regulators allow 11–12 hours and the US permits 9–11 hours, depending on operational conditions. This tighter band effectively reduces the number of long-haul red-eye flights airlines can schedule.
Where India is the toughest: Night landings
A key restriction that has drawn strong reactions from carriers is the cap of two-night landings per week and a limit of no more than two consecutive night duties. Neither the US nor Europe imposes separate night-landing caps, making India an outlier on this parameter.
Airlines argue that these limits disrupt roster planning and aircraft utilisation, especially for hubs with peak night operations. Pilot unions, however, say the caps are vital for reducing cumulative fatigue.
Daytime operations: Closely aligned with global peers
Despite the tougher night norms, India’s daytime duty-time limits remain broadly comparable to international standards. Pilots can operate 11 to 13 hours of daytime duty, similar to Europe, and only slightly below the 14-hour upper limit in the US.
The big structural difference
While Western regulators allow carriers to use fatigue risk–management models for more dynamic, data-driven scheduling, India continues to adopt fixed, prescriptive limits on duty hours and landings. Safety experts say this makes compliance straightforward but can reduce operational flexibility during irregular operations or peak travel seasons.
Bottom line
With aviation demand surging and airlines pushing for more efficient scheduling, India’s FDTL framework — among the strictest in the world — has become a focal point in the ongoing debate over safety, crew fatigue, and airline reliability. As disruptions persist, the industry is watching closely to see whether the regulator revisits any of the new norms or stays firmly aligned with a safety-first approach.
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