Proposed Rules Remove Rest Requirement Distinctions Between
Domestic And International Flights
U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood and FAA Administrator
Randy Babbitt today announced a landmark proposal to fight fatigue
among commercial pilots by setting new flight time, duty and rest
requirements based on fatigue science.
“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.
Today’s proposal is compatible with provisions in the
Airline Safety and Federal Aviation Administration 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.
“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. The proposal also 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 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, a 25 percent increase over
the current rules.
Congress recently mandated that all air carriers have a Fatigue
Risk Management Plan (FRMP). 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 FRMP.
The proposed rule incorporates the work of an Aviation
Rulemaking Committee (ARC) comprised of labor, industry, and FAA
experts that delivered its recommendations to Administrator Babbitt
on September 9, 2009.