Loco pilots of Indian Railways have demanded clear duty-hour limits to curb fatigue and prevent potential accidents, citing the government’s firm stance on airline pilot work hours amid the IndiGo crisis.
In a statement, the All India Loco Running Staff Association (AILRSA) criticised the Centre for showing leniency toward private airlines while taking a tougher approach with government employees. The union said that worker agitations in public-sector units are routinely met with disciplinary action, chargesheets, or suppression under various “black rules,” often justified in the name of public convenience or essential services.
“But when large private corporations resist safety regulations, the government kneels before their diktats, even compromising system safety,” AILRSA alleged.
The ongoing aviation turmoil stems from IndiGo’s failure to comply with mandated pilot rest rules, including the revised Flight Duty Time Limitations (FDTL) and the Fatigue Risk Management System (FRMS) introduced in November. The lapse led to major disruptions across the domestic aviation sector.
AILRSA said the issues in aviation reflect long-standing concerns of loco pilots, who have for decades sought scientifically designed duty schedules. The union noted that fatigue-management norms worldwide are based on extensive research and past safety incidents. It cited strict duty and rest limits in the EU, mandatory off-duty periods under America’s Hours of Service Act, and the use of advanced biomathematical models in Australia and Canada.
The association urged the Railways to adopt an FRMS-based work-hour system with a six-hour daily duty limit, predictable rest schedules, 16 hours of rest after each shift, and weekly rest in addition to daily rest.
