Before the IndiGo crisis, a committee issued dire warnings about slow recruitment of pilots
A parliamentary standing committee has issued stark warnings about growing risks in India’s aviation sector, pointing out that the mismatch between rapid fleet expansion and lag in recruitment of pilots and air traffic controllers (ATCs) is pushing the system towards a critical inflection point. The committee, chaired by Sanjay Jha, specifically warned that systemic vulnerabilities, if not addressed, could threaten aviation security as passenger numbers and aircraft fleets increase nationwide.
According to an article in The Economic Times, the committee’s report, tabled in Parliament in early August, emphasizes that airlines should not circumvent flight duty time limitation (FDTL) norms for pilots. Authorities have also been asked to assess whether the recently revised FDTL standards and mental health protocols effectively reduce fatigue and stress among pilots and other operational personnel.
The committee’s report called for similar fatigue risk measures for ATCs, recommending a national fatigue risk management system and a comprehensive personnel audit, according to the report.
The committee warned that fatigue among pilots and controllers increases the risk of runway incursions, ground collisions and in-flight conflicts. He highlighted the urgent need for robust regulatory oversight as workload increases, and called on the DGCA to ensure compliance with all relevant standards.
Following the recent mass flight cancellations by IndiGo, the committee is now ready to review the situation and hold discussions with the airline. IndiGo’s flight cancellations further highlighted the committee’s earlier warning that the aviation system is nearing a dangerous tipping point due to unresolved staffing and regulatory issues.
The report said five new flight training organizations (FTOs) were approved in 2024-25, bringing the total to 39, with six more in the process of certification. This year, 34 aircraft were added to the training fleets, bringing the total to 350. However, the committee called for acceleration of certification processes and expansion of training centers, especially in remote areas covered by the UDAN program.
The committee also highlighted regulatory gaps in high-risk operations, observing that despite the complexity of Himalayan aviation, India does not have mandatory mountain flying training and certification for pilots in these regions. Such omissions, the panel argued, compound the risks posed by rapid sector growth and limited supervisory capacity.
