At the Air Line Pilots Association's Air Safety Forum last month, Fraser, the Federal Aviation Administration's chief air surgeon, said the FAA's exclusion of cargo pilots from new fatigue rules was done for political reasons. Fraser said the
aviation professionals at the FAA understand that there is no difference between pilots who fly cargo and pilots who carry passengers, other than the fact that cargo carriers' management complained that increased rest for pilots would cost too much
...
In Washington, they say you should always "follow the money."
The trail is obvious: UPS and FedEx, the nation's largest cargo airlines,
have spent more than $140 million in lobbying and political contributions since President Obama took office. Small wonder that this administration carved cargo pilots out of the rule...
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Cargo pilot hours should be regulated, too: Column