Bullet points put out by DALPA:


· The new rule incorporates fatigue science to determine flight time, duty period and rest periods.

· The maximum duty period depends on when the pilot’s day begins and the number of flight segments he is expected to fly. It ranges from 9-14 hours for unaugmented crew operations.

· The FAA limits unaugmented flight time to eight or nine hours depending on the start time of the pilot’s flight duty period. These new times are hard times, not scheduled times. This means that, unlike today, you cannot go over the maximum unless already airborne on the last leg. Note: The original Notice of Proposed Rule Making (NPRM) included a 10-hour maximum with the industry lobbying for 11 hours.

· The rule includes a 10-hour minimum rest period prior to the flight duty period and mandates that a pilot must have an opportunity for eight hours of uninterrupted sleep within that period. Reduced rest and compensatory rest have been eliminated in favor of the new mandates.

· The rule addresses potential cumulative fatigue by placing weekly and 28-day limits on the amount of time a pilot may be assigned any type of flight duty. The rule also places a “100 hours in a 28-day” and “1000 hours in a 365 day” limit on actual flight time.

· The new rule requires that pilots have at least 30 consecutive hours free from duty in 168 hours (seven days), a 25 percent increase over the previous 24 in 7 rule.

· The rule provides significant improvements to pilots, both domestic and international, who are on reserve (e.g. no more 24-hour international short call; 14 hour max). Note: This is first time reserve provisions have been incorporated into the regulations.

Our contract has always had provisions more restrictive than the FARs. For example, our rest, break in duty and duty time rules were developed to supplement FARs that, at the time, did not address these issues. The new FARs now provide guidance that, in some cases is less restrictive than our PWA, but in other cases more restrictive. Where the new rule is more restrictive it will govern, but where the PWA is more restrictive, it will continue to govern.

The MEC Scheduling Committee, Contract Administration Committee and Negotiating Committees are already busy dissecting the new rule to determine to what extent and how they will affect the Delta pilots and Delta’s operation. Unfortunately, rumor and speculation have already started to mount. For example, misinformation is being spread about how the new rule will allow Delta to operate its flights to and from Western Europe with two-man crews. We encourage you to review Touch & Gos 11-14 – Flight Time Duty Time NPRM, which will provide you with an overview of how the new rule and our existing contract will work together to provide the conditions under which we operate.

Over the coming days and weeks, you can expect to receive comprehensive information from ALPA National detailing the new rule and how it will affect our profession. In the meantime, if you have specific questions on how the rule will affect Delta pilots, you can e-mail [email protected]. Please do not rely on rumor and hearsay in an effort to evaluate the rule.

ALPA has worked diligently to modernize the flight-and duty-time regulations for nearly 25 years, facing government bureaucracy and stiff industry resistance. While this new rule represents some significant accomplishments, not all of ALPA’s concerns were addressed. In a press release today, ALPA President Captain Lee Moak wrote, “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.”

This rule provides air carriers with two years to make changes to their existing flight schedules and operations and if necessary, to address any labor agreement issues. ALPA will continue to advocate at every opportunity for One Level of Safety and One Level of Flight Time/Duty Time during that transition. 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.