In response to a few pilot-fatigue incidents, IndiGo, one of the biggest airlines in India, is introducing a fatigue band to monitor pilots' alertness and fatigue
IndiGo, India's leading airline in terms of both passenger volume and fleet size, is actively developing a wrist device designed to gauge pilot fatigue and alertness levels before and after flights. As one of the world's fastest-growing airlines, IndiGo recently disclosed its partnership with the French aerospace giant Thales Group, positioning itself as an 'early adopter' of their cutting-edge Fatigue Analysis Tool.
In a press release issued on Wednesday, IndiGo affirmed that this will be a "proof-of-concept trial”. According to ANI, IndiGo said in a statement: "This initiative is to develop a fatigue detection model that offers detailed insights into demographic data, including routes, pairings, crew profiles, and more, going beyond traditional scheduling-focussed biomathematical models." In an internal communication addressed to pilots, the airline informed them that over the past year, they have collaborated with global organisations specialising in fields such as sleep science and the effects of duty schedules on pilots, according to ANI.
IndiGo, operating approximately 1,900 flights daily, employs over 4,000 pilots who perform up to four take offs and landings per day. This, first-of-its-kind endeavour is set to position IndiGo as a leader in airline safety and innovation, establishing a benchmark within the industry. In a communication sent to the pilots, IndiGo said that the wrist-strapped device along with a ground device will be available for use in Delhi, Mumbai, Bengaluru and Chennai.