(a) whether the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has issued fresh guidelines for airlines to address communication lag while pilots are taking controlled rest during the flight;
(b) if so, the details thereof;
(c) whether the guidelines have been issued in the wake of two incidents of radio communication failure involving two airlines in the European airspace recently; and
(d) if so, the details thereof?
The Minister of State in the Ministry of CIVIL AVIATION
(Shri Jayant Sinha)
(a) & (b) Yes, Madam. DGCA has issued an operations circular no. 8 of 2013 dated 14.08.2013 for controlled rest on flight deck addressing the procedures for communication while pilots are taking controlled rest during the flight. No guidelines has been issued thereafter in this regard.;
(c) & (d) Two incidents of radio communication failure took place in European Air space involving Indian schedule operators in the month of February, 2017 and March, 2017 respectively. DGCA reviewed the procedures followed by concerned airlines for controlled rest during the flight and advised them to strictly adhere to the provision of operation circular 08 of 2013 on controlled rest during the flight.