Indian FDTLs
Whatever the motivation for DGCAs recent decisions regarding FDTLs, in the final analysis the problem ends up, as always, in the front left hand seat. Individual commanders must decide for themselves how best to handle the matter. My decision has been to bale out.
I would like to think that this decision was due to high minded principle, but it was actually just plain selfishness. The current situation will provoke an incident sooner or later, but my command will not be involved, because I will be elsewhere.
I have always believed that over-regulation is a BAD THING – still do, in fact. However, it has been clearly demonstrated to me that a situation where rules can easily be manipulated, where safety can be set aside in the interest of expediency, is far worse. Over-regulation beats being asked, on a daily basis, to operate in an unsafe manner.