Just as thousands of passengers still remain stranded across the country due to IndiGo’s large-scale flight cancellations, it has now come to light that a parliamentary committee had raised strong warnings
as early as August about looming risks in India’s aviation system. An Economic Times Report highlighted that the Standing Committee on Transport, Tourism and Culture had cautioned that ignoring pilot fatigue norms and expanding fleets without matching manpower growth could push the aviation sector towards a dangerous tipping point.
What were the warnings about?
The committee’s report, tabled in Parliament, highlighted a serious mismatch between India’s rapidly growing aircraft fleets and the much slower expansion of pilot and air traffic controller (ATC) manpower. It warned that the aviation ecosystem was approaching a “critical inflection point,” driven by pilot fatigue, overstretched ATCs, and capacity shortages across regulatory agencies.
According to the panel, rising workload for pilots increases the risk of runway incursions, ground collisions, and airborne conflicts. It stressed that the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) must strictly enforce Flight Duty Time Limitation (FDTL) rules and ensure airlines do not circumvent them.
The report noted that fatigue-related risks were becoming more visible, making strong monitoring essential.
Panel to review IndiGo disruptions
Chaired by JDU leader Sanjay Jha, the parliamentary committee is now expected to review the ongoing wave of cancellations and hold discussions with IndiGo. For several days, the airline has been cancelling hundreds of flights daily after failing to implement revised fatigue-management norms for pilots.
The DGCA had introduced updated FDTL rules last year for phased implementation, but IndiGo’s inability to reorganise its large-scale rosters has caused a severe manpower crunch and widespread disruption.
Call for stronger fatigue management systems
Back in August, the committee had also urged the DGCA to assess whether the new FDTL rules and mental-health protocols were genuinely reducing fatigue and stress. It recommended a national Fatigue Risk Management System for ATCs, along with a full staffing audit to address overwork and long hours.
The committee highlighted that rapid fleet expansion would require thousands of new pilots in the coming years, making streamlined training and clear safety frameworks even more important.
Shortage of regulators and training gaps
The report pointed out several structural weaknesses. While pilot training capacity has been expanded through five new Flying Training Organisations (FTOs) approved in 2024-25, raising the total to 39, the committee insisted that further expansion is urgently needed. Six more FTOs are under consideration, and training fleets have increased to 350 aircraft.
However, the committee also flagged “serious regulatory gaps,” especially in high-risk mountain-flying regions. Despite the complexity and hazards of Himalayan operations, India still does not have mandatory mountain-flying certification for pilots working in those areas.
DGCA facing severe manpower crunch
Perhaps the most concerning detail in the report is the DGCA’s own staffing shortage. Of the 1,063 sanctioned posts, only 553 are filled. Nearly half the positions remain vacant even as India experiences record growth in domestic air traffic.
The panel said this shortage represents a “severe structural vulnerability” for aviation safety. Without adequate regulatory oversight, it warned, the aviation system could face significant operational and safety challenges.
As IndiGo’s crisis unfolds, the committee’s warnings appear increasingly prescient, and highlight the urgent need for stronger manpower planning, stricter compliance, and effective oversight across India’s aviation sector.
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