The aviation regulator has increased the mandatory weekly rest period for flight crew to 48 hours from the earlier 36 hours, the civil aviation ministry said on Monday, as it laid out a host of measures to address complaints of pilot fatigue.

The DGCA will also mandate all airline operators to submit quarterly fatigue reports and comply with the revised regulations by June 1, 2024. The reports "should follow a follow a non-punitive and confidentiality policy".

The revised regulations come months after the watchdog decided to conduct a review of pilot fatigue data collected during spot checks and surveillance of airlines after an IndiGo pilot collapsed and died before his flight in August last year

The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has also extended the night hours for pilots and now, it covers the period from 0000-0600 hours whereas it was 0000-0500 hours earlier.

DGCA regulations specify the number of hours a pilot can fly. It also covers aspects such as the rest period between two flights.

Pilot unions in India had flagged long duty hours, inadequate rest, and fatigue as concerns and even moved to court against the prevailing norms, seeking a change. There were also a few instances of pilots suffering sudden cardiac arrests on duty. A draft of new regulations was issued in November, 2023 for suggestions and objections.

The regulator also cut the maximum flight duty period to 10 hours from 13 hours for pilots working nights and limited the number of flight landings to two, from six, during night operations.