The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), India’s aviation safety regulator, has expanded its regulations to permit scheduled commuter airlines to operate single-engine aircraft at night. Previously, these operations were restricted to daytime and Visual Flight Rules (VFR).
This move is expected to improve air connectivity to remote areas during night hours. Scheduled commuter airlines primarily handle regional flights. The DGCA’s new regulations incorporate guidelines and detailed assessment criteria for routes, crew qualifications, experience, training, and operational safety. The decision to grant approval for night operations will be based on operators meeting these requirements, following an expert committee’s review of international regulations and global best practices, India’s safety data, and practical flight trials to enhance safety measures. This expansion aligns with the government’s efforts to enhance regional air connectivity across the country.
