News from FAA
 

CPT D. forwarded this to me so I'll pass it on.


FAA starts 'expedited review' of pilot rest rules, plans 'rapidly' to develop new rule
Thursday June 25, 2009

US FAA Administrator Randy Babbitt said yesterday that the agency is initiating "an expedited review of flight and rest rules" and "will work rapidly to develop and implement a new flight time and rest rule."

Babbitt said that "pilot fatigue [is now] a high priority" for FAA and called for US airlines and pilot unions "to respond [to FAA] by July 31 with specific commitments to strengthen safety at regional and major airlines." He said carriers must "obtain all available FAA pilot records, among other actions."

In a statement, he said he will establish an Aviation Rulemaking Committee on pilot fatigue by July 15 comprising FAA, labor and industry representatives "that will be charged with developing recommendations for an FAA rule by September 1." Also by July 15, FAA inspectors "will complete a focused review of airline procedures for identifying and tracking pilots who fail evaluations or demonstrate a repetitive need for additional training." Inspectors additionally will review airlines' pilot training and qualification programs to ensure they meet FAA standards.

"Safety remains the airlines' top priority," Air Transport Assn. President and CEO James May said yesterday, adding that Babbitt's statement "reflects our shared commitment to adopt meaningful safety initiatives on an aggressive timeline."

Congress and FAA have become intensely interested in pilot training and rest procedures, particularly at US regional airlines, in the aftermath of February's fatal crash of a Colgan Air Q400 outside Buffalo. Babbitt, formerly president of the Air Line Pilots Assn. and an Eastern Airlines pilot for more than 25 years, signaled last week that the agency this summer would tackle aggressively issues surrounding pilot training and fatigue and rest rules (ATWOnline, July 17).

Babbitt said he told airlines in a letter sent yesterday that they should "immediately adopt a policy to ensure that their pilot applicants release any records held by the FAA to the hiring air carrier while the agency works with Congress to update the current Pilot Records Improvement Act of 1996." He added that FAA "expects airlines that have contractual relationships with regional feeder companies to develop specific programs to share safety data and ensure that their partner airlines mirror their most effective safety practices."

Hey, maybe Babbitt is going to do us some good? I sure hope so...

I hope so too, but........it will be very tough, even for the FAA to impose safety on the airlines' managements (esp. FedEx)

The "person" that could do us all the most good is the individual pilot.

DON'T FLY FATIGUED!

(don't voluntarily pick up FATIGUING DISPUTED PAIRINGS)

It's simple, and it's the ONLY way the company is going to get the message to back off the mythical "optimizer"

Follow the company's direct guidance and if you're not fit to fly, DON'T!!

P.S. The company will figure out a way to still get the freight there on time - it may take a few more pilots on the payroll and strategically placed throughout the system on standby (or something to that effect), but.......they'll figure out a way - and still manage to make a profit doing it.

I flew on the j/s of a Pinnacle RJ crew a couple of weeks ago. They blocked in at 2200, were blocking out the next morning at 0600 for a full day. You tell me when they had time to get to travel to the hotel, maybe eat dinner, catch some sleep, eat breakfast, shower, shave, exercise (?), call the wife, whatever. How were they supposed to get more than 6 hours of sleep? I understand that sometimes, due to weather or mx, that turn times get compressed. But, to have a SCHEDULED 8 hour turn is freakin' criminal. The rules need to be changed. When I commented on it, the F/O said "Even though I made 17K last year, there are 50 people waiting to have my job. That's just part of being an airline pilot." That attitude needs to change.

Happens every day at the regional level. Heck, I bet with the work rules given up after 9/11 it happens at the "majors" a fair bit. Doesn't make it right, but the FAA needs to change it.

Maybe another band-aid fix like the whole TSA thing to gain public confidence in air travel. Does this apply to Cargo types I wonder? Maybe I overlooked a generalization about all flying types, but it sounded pretty specific to people carriers.
WG

I wouldn't be surprised to see the 8 hour rest rule increased to 10 hours. The flip side is I also expect to see the max block time increased to 10 hours for a 2 pilot crew. Considering the recent events, it wouldn't surprise me to see some type of rule that excludes commuting time from being considered as rest.

How does one regulate "commute" time? I suppose it must be like regulating when one has a BM.
WG

Good point, I couldn't take the jumpseat to memphis but I could make the 6 hour drive? Perhaps they will say you can only live 20 minutes away from the airport.

Thats the norm at Pinnacle. Recent four day trip.

DAY 1 - 13hours duty - 9 hours rest
Day 2 - 12 hours duty - 11 hours comp rest
Day 3 - 13 hours duty - 8 hours rest
Day 4 - 8 hours Duty

Total Block 25 hours. Scheduled reduced rest is normal for the nickel. Majority of 4 day trips have 2 nights reduced rest. I'd say 99% of two day trips are reduced rest.