Two pilot deaths within 48 hours have put India’s aviation safety framework under sharp focus, with the Airline Pilots’ Association of India (ALPA) warning the Directorate General of Civil Aviation that continued delays in implementing Flight Duty Time Limitations (FDTL) norms are pushing the system towards a fatigue-driven safety risk.In a strongly worded letter dated May 1, the pilots’ body flagged an urgent need for regulatory intervention, and said that the issue “bears directly on flight safety, regulatory credibility, and the well-being of flight crew”, particularly in the backdrop of “recent death of pilots in this week”.The pilots’ body flagged that repeated relaxations granted to airlines have “materially diluted the intent of the FDTL regulations”, with temporary exemptions becoming standard practice. This, it said, has allowed operators to function “at or near regulatory limits without adequate safety buffers”, undermining fatigue management systems.Calling for immediate corrective action, ALPA demanded a time-bound roadmap for full implementation of FDTL norms and the phased withdrawal of all operational variations. It said a clearly defined transition plan is essential to restore regulatory certainty and enforce uniform compliance across airlines.Raising concerns over pilot fatigue, the association pointed to the dilution of weekly rest norms, noting that allowing leave to substitute mandatory rest has a “cumulative impact on fatigue, circadian disruption, and long-term health outcomes.” It underlined that recent deaths of pilots, both under 45, “speak volumes” about the gravity of the situation.On fatigue reporting, ALPA cited RTI findings to highlight an “alarmingly low rate of acceptance” of fatigue reports by airlines. It said such practices discourage reporting and weaken safety culture. To address this, the body sought mandatory quarterly fatigue data submissions, public disclosure on the DGCA website, and regulatory audits of acceptance rates and corrective measures.The association also flagged transparency concerns, pointing to the continued non-disclosure of the inquiry report into the December 2025 disruption involving IndiGo. It said withholding the report raises questions about “systemic resilience and operational planning” and called for its immediate release in the interest of accountability.Further, ALPA demanded that the DGCA publish periodic data on pilot health and availability, including Permanent Medical Unfitness (PMU) and Temporary Medical Unfitness (TMU) cases, along with trends linked to rostering practices. It said the absence of such disclosures creates “an avoidable perception” that key safety indicators are not being transparently assessed.The letter also flagged the impact of consecutive night duties, stating that their operational misuse has coincided with rising fatigue and adverse health outcomes. It recommended that airlines incorporate safety buffers below maximum FDTL limits, ensure roster stability as a measurable safety parameter, and analyse schedule deviations for fatigue risks.ALPA further raised structural concerns in the aviation workforce, pointing to the financial burden on cadet pilots and the underutilisation of licensed pilots despite airlines citing crew shortages. It said the imbalance requires regulatory intervention to ensure fairness and sustainability.Significantly, the association cautioned against any move to revisit or dilute the FDTL framework, stating that the norms were finalised after due consultation and any rollback without fresh safety data would undermine regulatory integrity.Summing up its demands, ALPA urged the regulator to enforce a time-bound FDTL rollout, withdraw all relaxations, restore weekly rest protections, ensure transparency in fatigue reporting, release pending inquiry reports, and publish medical fitness data.“The safety of human life must remain paramount and non-negotiable in all aviation operations,” the association said, warning that commercial pressures must not override safety imperatives.