New Rules Codify Crew Rest, Pilot's Work Day
Reaction has begun to come in from the release Wednesday of
pilot fatigue rules from the FAA. And while the rules are, in the
words of NTSB chair Deborah Hersman "not perfect," the reviews are
generally favorable.
“Today’s pilot fatigue rule release marks historic
progress in what must be an unrelenting commitment to ensuring the
highest safety standards throughout the airline industry," said
Capt. Lee Moak (pictured), president of the Air Line Pilots
Association, Int’l (ALPA). "The Air Line Pilots Association,
Int’l (ALPA), is gratified that the Department of
Transportation and the Federal Aviation Administration have
delivered on their pledge, and a Congressional mandate, to issue
new flight- and duty-time regulations and minimum rest requirements
for airline pilots.
Moak pointed out that ALPA has fought for regulations that are
based on modern science for many years. The union's goal has been
rules that apply equally to all types of airline operations,
including domestic, international, and supplemental; and enable air
carriers to establish Fatigue Risk Management Systems. Among its
most recent actions to combat pilot fatigue, ALPA co-chaired the
FAA’s Aviation Rulemaking Committee, which made
recommendations to the government regarding this important rule,
with the determined goal of advancing safety.
“While the new rule brings much-needed science-based
improvements in flight and duty regulations, ALPA is disappointed
that cargo operations are being held to a lesser standard. In the
coming days, ALPA will analyze the regulations to determine how
they will meet the union’s long-standing goals for addressing
pilot fatigue and ensuring that airline pilots will be well
positioned to arrive at work rested and ready to perform their
jobs. ALPA will continue to strongly advocate for One Level of
Safety for all types of flight operations and across the airline
industry,” he said
NTSB chair Hersman (pictured) said fatigue has been on
the Board's "Most Wanted List" of transportation safety
improvements since 1990. Over the first century of powered flight,
countless accidents trace pilot fatigue as a contributing
factor.
"This is why the NTSB is so pleased that the FAA today issued a
long-awaited science-based rule for flight and duty time," Hersman
said in a statement. "Secretary LaHood and former FAA Administrator
Babbitt have worked for years to shepherd this contentious rule
through the process. We applaud the leadership of DOT and FAA for
bringing it across the finish line.
"While this is not a perfect rule, it is a huge improvement over
the status quo for large passenger-carrying operations. Yet, we are
extremely disappointed that the new rule is limited to Part 121
carriers. A tired pilot is a tired pilot, whether there are 10
paying customers on board or 100, whether the payload is passengers
or pallets. As the FAA said in its draft, "Fatigue threatens
aviation safety because it increases the risk of pilot error that
could lead to an accident." This is particularly a
concern for crews that fly "on the back side of the clock."
Hersman said the Board looks forward to working with the FAA and
the aviation community to support the rule's essential education
and training components and to identify areas where additional
measures are needed.