Skift Take

At a time when most Indian airlines and airport operators are eyeing growth and announcing expansion plans, the country’s pilots and cabin crew fraternity are still struggling to negotiate salaries and flight duty timings.

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IndiGo is developing a wrist device designed to gauge pilot fatigue and alertness levels before and after flights, according to an internal memo obtained by Reuters The budget carrier will work in partnership with the French aerospace conglomerate, Thales Group, and also intends to appoint a consultant to improve its fatigue risk management procedures. 

Additionally, Tata Group-owned Air India said it would introduce two digital tools — the Pilot Sector Report (PSR) app and DocuNet — to address flight operations and pilot satisfaction. 

The moves come after an IndiGo pilot fell unconscious and died before his scheduled flight. The incident sparked complaints from some pilots, who expressed concerns about work conditions.

How Will the Devices Work? Calling it a “proof-of-concept trial,” IndiGo in a statement said the fatigue detection model will offer detailed insights into data, including routes, pairings, crew profiles, and more, going beyond traditional scheduling-focused models. 

Air India’s PSR app streamlines post-flight reporting, and DocuNet simplifies document distribution, ensuring up-to-date and synchronized information. 

Monitoring Fatigue Data: Meanwhile, aviation regulator Directorate General of Civil Aviation is conducting a review of pilot fatigue data collected through spot checks and airline surveillance to determine if changes are needed in flight duty time regulations or fatigue management protocols. 

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