Apparently, yes. While fatigue has been a factor in several accidents for many years, until it was the main causal factor, I doubt much will be done about it. The update to the rest rules is a good start, but itīs only a start. ALPA Safety has been fighting the fatigue battle for the past couple decades. Prior to the Colgan accident, the last NPRM on the issue was 95-18. Yes, thatīs 1995.

NPRM

PILOT FATIGUE

It isnīt for lack of effort that ALPA and the FAA has been unable to achieve much progress in this battle. Itīs been the huge amount of financial muscle theyīve been fighting against that have slowed the progress. Remember how the ATA sued the FAA over their reinterpretation of reserve rest which generated the RAP rules? This is what we are fighting against; Profit margins vs. Aviation Safety