Aviation News

2010-09-10

FAA Proposes Regulating Pilots’ Rest Period Based on Fatigue Science

More articles by »
Written by: BNO News
Tags: ,

U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood and Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Administrator Randy Babbitt on Friday announced a landmark proposal to fight fatigue among commercial pilots by setting new flight time, duty and rest requirements based on fatigue science.

The proposal defines “flight duty” as the period of time when a pilot reports for duty with the intention of flying an aircraft, operating a simulator or operating a flight training device.

A pilot’s entire duty period can include both “flight duty” and other tasks that do not involve flight time, such as record keeping and ground training.

The FAA proposes to set a nine-hour minimum opportunity for rest prior to the duty period, a one-hour increase over the current rules. The proposed rule would establish a new method for measuring a pilot’s rest period, so that the pilot can have the chance to receive at least eight hours of sleep during that rest period.

Cumulative fatigue would be addressed by placing weekly and 28-day limits on the amount of time a pilot may be assigned any type of duty. Additionally, 28-day and annual limits would be placed on flight time.

Pilots would have to be given at least 30 consecutive hours free from duty on a weekly basis, which is a 25 percent increase over the current rules.

“This proposal is a significant enhancement for aviation safety,” said Secretary LaHood. “Both pilots and passengers will benefit from these proposed rules that will continue to ensure the safety of our nation’s air transportation system.”

Last year, Secretary LaHood and Administrator Babbitt identified the issue of pilot fatigue as a top priority during the Airline Safety Call to Action following the crash of Colgan Air 3407 in February 2009.

Administrator Babbitt launched an aggressive effort to take advantage of the latest research on fatigue to create a new pilot flight, duty and rest proposal.

“I know firsthand that fighting fatigue is a serious issue, and it is the joint responsibility of both the airline and the pilot,” said Administrator Babbitt. “After years of debate, the aviation community is moving forward to give pilots the tools they need to manage fatigue and fly safely.”

Currently, there are different rest requirements for domestic, international and unscheduled flights. The proposed rule would eliminate these distinctions.

In addition, the proposal sets different requirements for pilots based on the time of day and number of scheduled segments, as well as time zones, type of flights, and likelihood that a pilot is able to sleep under different circumstances.

The proposal is compatible with provisions in the Airline Safety and FAA Extension Act of 2010, which directs the FAA to issue a regulation no later than August 1, 2011, to specify limitations on the hours of pilot flight and duty time to address problems relating to pilot fatigue.

Congress recently mandated that all air carriers have a Fatigue Risk Management Plan, and each carrier will be able to develop its own set of policies and procedures to reduce the risks of pilot fatigue and improve alertness. The FAA has prepared guidance material to help the airlines develop their plan.



About the Author

BNO News





 
 

 

For Disruptive Passengers, The Cost Can Be Sky High

Air travelers are returning to the skies in large numbers following the downturn in travel caused by the COVID-19 Pandemic. However, some disruptive passengers are discovering the hard way how high the cost of air travel can re...
by Mark Lawrence
0

 
 

The Legal Responsibility of Passengers During an Airplane Evacuation

Following a plane crash, it's imperative that the aircraft evacuation move quickly. But what are your legal responsibilities as a passenger?
by David J. Williams
0

 

 

How Existing Funding Could Keep The FAA Open In A Future Shutdown

The government shutdown drags on, and is now in its third week. Tom Rainey Jr. explores how Congress could insulate the FAA's operations from a future shutdown, primarily using existing funding.
by Tom Rainey
0

 
 

UAS in the USA: A History of Drone Regulations

The FAA has developed regulations for drone operators to operate their UAS for fun or for profit in a legal and safe environment, but the path was not always quick or straightforward.
by David J. Williams
1

 
 

OPINION: Privatization Is Not The Answer For Our ATC System

Columnist Dave Williams takes a look at President Trump's proposal to privatize the nation's air traffic control system, and finds that there are more cons than there are pros.
by David J. Williams
0

 




  • pilots duty time is a matter of serious concern for the airlines, pilots and the regulators…excess duty hours causes fatigue which comprises safety resulting in loss of human lives ….a drive should be launched globally by the airlines and the pilots….it is the core responsibility of the regulators of the state to ensure compliance by their respective operators….a method to be devised for severe penalty who defaults the compliance ….