Faiz Ahmed Kidwai Appointed as DGCA Director General

Senior IAS officer Faiz Ahmed Kidwai, a 1996-batch officer from the Madhya Pradesh cadre, has been appointed as the new Director-General (DG) of the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA). His appointment, approved by the Appointments Committee of the Cabinet, fills the position left vacant after his predecessor, Vikram Dev Dutt, was elevated and transferred to the Ministry of Coal. Kidwai now faces key challenges, including resolving disputes over pilot duty and rest norms.

Key Points

Background of Appointment

• Predecessor: Vikram Dev Dutt, promoted to the rank of Secretary and transferred to the Ministry of Coal.
• Interim Leadership: Joint-DG D.C. Sharma held additional charge of the DGCA before Kidwai’s appointment.
• Current Role: Faiz Ahmed Kidwai was previously an Additional Secretary in the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare.

Challenges Ahead

Pilot Duty and Rest Norms

• January 2024 rules increased weekly rest for pilots from 36 to 48 hours.
• Night flying hours were curtailed to address pilot fatigue.
• Airlines opposed the changes, citing operational difficulties and the need for additional pilots.

Airline Concerns

• IndiGo: Warned of severe operational impact due to reduced night flying.
• Air India: Proposed a staggered approach to the new rest norms and requested a data-based fatigue management system.

Court Ordered Mediation

• Delhi High Court directed DGCA to mediate between airlines and pilot groups to finalize a timeline for the implementation of the January 2024 rules.
• Next hearing scheduled for January 23, 2025.

Industry Impact

• Airlines proposed phased implementation of the new rules,
• IndiGo: Gradual enhancement of rest between June 2025 and July 2026.
• Air India: Committed to implementing 48-hour weekly rest from June 2025.