Pretty incredible for a Flight Dept VP to state, “It isn’t a request from the NTSB”
NTSB letter to the FAA administrator, July 2013:
“The NTSB disagrees with this [cargo carrier] exclusion, as many of the fatigue-related accidents that we have investigated over the years involved cargo operators. We also believe that, because of the time of day that cargo operations typically occur, such operations are in greater need of these requirements....[W]e are very concerned about the cargo exclusion...”
NTSB Chairman Deborah Hersman:
“We see two major omissions in part 117. [...] I will say we were disappointed with the exclusion of cargo operators. Science does not support allowing longer duty hours for certain subgroups. The payload may be different; but the pilot's vulnerability to fatigue remains constant.”
NTSB Accident Report, UPS 1354:
”The NTSB has had longstanding concerns about fatigue in aviation, and, for many years, this issue was on the NTSB’s Most Wanted List. The FAA recently issued new flight- and duty-time regulations for Part 121 operations that went into effect on January 4, 2014. However, these regulations do not apply to all-cargo operations. The NTSB has stated that it believes that the FAA should include all Part 121 operations under the new rules.”