IndiGo crisis: Loco pilots also seek duty hour limits to prevent fatigue & rail accidents
By Arun Kumar Das
New Delhi, Dec 12 (BVI): In view of the government’s stance regarding duty hours of airline pilots, train drivers of the Indian Railways have demanded hour limits on their shifts to prevent fatigue and avert potential rail accidents.
The All India Loco Running Staff Association (AILRSA), representing train drivers, has criticised the government, saying it had adopted a soft stance with regard to the IndiGo airline issue opposed to the position vis-a-vis government employees on duty hours.
In a statement, the According said every worker agitation in any public sector or government-run industry is often met with disciplinary action, chargesheets, or suppression “invoking all sorts of black rules and are being justified as taken for the convenience of the travelling people or transportation of essential goods.”
“But when large private corporations resist safety regulations, the government kneels before their dictums even neglecting the safety of the system.”
The statement came against the backdrop of the government putting on hold its directive to the airlines to implement the Fatigue Risk Management System (FRMS) and the notified revised Flight Duty Time Limitations (FDTL) after the crisis involving IndiGo’s operations.
According to the association, the aviation controversy closely mirrors the longstanding issues faced by loco pilots in Indian Railways. “For decades, railway crews have been demanding a scientifically designed working atmosphere,” AILRSA said, adding fatigue-risk rules have emerged globally from decades of research and safety failures.
“The EU Railways follow strict cumulative duty and rest limits. American railroads operate under the Hours of Service Act with mandatory off-duty rest…Australia and Canada use advanced bio mathematical models to design crew duty schedules,” the association said.
The association called for immediate adoption of an FRMS-based working hour system for loco pilots with a six-hour daily limit.
In addition, it asked for predictable rest periods with 16 hours after every duty and weekly rest in addition to daily rest. (BVI)
