India, Sept. 4 -- The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) on Wednesday released a draft framework on Fatigue Risk Management System (FRMS) for airlines, a model that has long been viewed as a scientific way to manage fatigue among flight crew.

The draft 'Operations Circular' clarifies that FRMS will not be mandatory. Airlines may continue under existing duty-hour and rest rules, or opt for FRMS as an alternative if they can demonstrate through data and monitoring that safety is maintained.

FRMS is defined as a "performance-based system" that enables carriers to identify, assess and mitigate fatigue in a structured way. Unlike prescriptive limits that only cap flight duty periods and rest times, the new model relies on bio-mathe...