Senator would exempt Charter from rest rules
02-02-2011, 08:22 PM
#1
Rubber dogsh#t out of HKG
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Joined APC: Jan 2008
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Senator would exempt Charter from rest rules
Senator Would Exempt Some Pilots From Safety Rules - CBS News
(AP) WASHINGTON (AP) - The pilots who fly U.S. troops around the world would be exempt from new safety rules being drafted to prevent overtired pilots from causing accidents under a proposal Wednesday in the Senate.
Republican Sen. James Inhofe offered an amendment to a bill that would authorize Federal Aviation Administration programs for the next two years. The amendment would prohibit the FAA from including nonscheduled airlines in new rules the agency is drafting on how many hours airlines can schedule pilots to be on duty and how much time they must be allowed for rest between work days.
Nonscheduled airlines like Evergreen International Airlines, Atlas Air Worldwide and World Airways fly 95 percent of U.S. troops and 40 percent of U.S. military cargo around the world, according to the National Air Carrier Association, an industry trade group.
The airlines say the unpredictable nature of their business means their pilots sometimes have to fly longer hours. However, FAA officials working on the new rules refused to create separate rules for nonscheduled airlines. FAA Administrator Randy Babbitt has said troops are as deserving of well-rested pilots as other airline passengers.
Fatigue has been cited as a factor in some air crashes. Sleep experts have told safety officials that fatigue has affects similar to alcohol, slowing pilots' response times and eroding their judgment.
Oakley Brooks, president of the carrier association, said nonscheduled airlines compensate for pilots' long duty days by giving them more time off between flights. He said nonscheduled airline pilots typically fly about 50 hours a month compared to about 75 hours a month for other airline pilots
Unable to persuade the FAA, industry has turned its attention to Congress.
"It is extremely important that we maintain separate yet safe flight and duty time rules for supplemental carriers," Inhofe said. "One size should not fit all, because supplemental airlines must continue to have the flexibility allowed under current rules to respond to customer demands. This includes both commercial and military."
The amendment would keep current rules for nonscheduled airlines in place. FAA could still draft separate rules for nonscheduled airlines, but it would have to start the arduous rulemaking process from the beginning.
Pilot unions oppose Inhofe's amendment. They say nonscheduled airline pilots get tired the same as other pilots.
"The fatigue issue at the nonskeds is dramatically worse than at the scheduled airlines under the current rules," said Joe Muckle, president of Airline Professionals Association Teamsters Local 1224, which represents about 2,800 nonscheduled airline pilots. For example, it's not unusual for pilots to fly to Europe and then to the Middle East and then back to Europe all in one duty period, he said.
(AP) WASHINGTON (AP) - The pilots who fly U.S. troops around the world would be exempt from new safety rules being drafted to prevent overtired pilots from causing accidents under a proposal Wednesday in the Senate.
Republican Sen. James Inhofe offered an amendment to a bill that would authorize Federal Aviation Administration programs for the next two years. The amendment would prohibit the FAA from including nonscheduled airlines in new rules the agency is drafting on how many hours airlines can schedule pilots to be on duty and how much time they must be allowed for rest between work days.
Nonscheduled airlines like Evergreen International Airlines, Atlas Air Worldwide and World Airways fly 95 percent of U.S. troops and 40 percent of U.S. military cargo around the world, according to the National Air Carrier Association, an industry trade group.
The airlines say the unpredictable nature of their business means their pilots sometimes have to fly longer hours. However, FAA officials working on the new rules refused to create separate rules for nonscheduled airlines. FAA Administrator Randy Babbitt has said troops are as deserving of well-rested pilots as other airline passengers.
Fatigue has been cited as a factor in some air crashes. Sleep experts have told safety officials that fatigue has affects similar to alcohol, slowing pilots' response times and eroding their judgment.
Oakley Brooks, president of the carrier association, said nonscheduled airlines compensate for pilots' long duty days by giving them more time off between flights. He said nonscheduled airline pilots typically fly about 50 hours a month compared to about 75 hours a month for other airline pilots
Unable to persuade the FAA, industry has turned its attention to Congress.
"It is extremely important that we maintain separate yet safe flight and duty time rules for supplemental carriers," Inhofe said. "One size should not fit all, because supplemental airlines must continue to have the flexibility allowed under current rules to respond to customer demands. This includes both commercial and military."
The amendment would keep current rules for nonscheduled airlines in place. FAA could still draft separate rules for nonscheduled airlines, but it would have to start the arduous rulemaking process from the beginning.
Pilot unions oppose Inhofe's amendment. They say nonscheduled airline pilots get tired the same as other pilots.
"The fatigue issue at the nonskeds is dramatically worse than at the scheduled airlines under the current rules," said Joe Muckle, president of Airline Professionals Association Teamsters Local 1224, which represents about 2,800 nonscheduled airline pilots. For example, it's not unusual for pilots to fly to Europe and then to the Middle East and then back to Europe all in one duty period, he said.
02-03-2011, 03:46 AM
#2
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: Mar 2008
Position: FAA 'Flight Check'
Posts: 13,837
This from a guy who lands on closed runways?
FAA Investigates Senator Jim Inhofe - NewsOn6.com - Tulsa, OK - News, Weather, Video and Sports - KOTV.com |
Never did hear what became of that.
USMCFLYR
FAA Investigates Senator Jim Inhofe - NewsOn6.com - Tulsa, OK - News, Weather, Video and Sports - KOTV.com |
Never did hear what became of that.
USMCFLYR
02-03-2011, 06:36 AM
#3
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: Jun 2010
Position: Doing what you do, for less.
Posts: 1,792
So due to the erractic nature and long days scheduled airlines operate, they shouldn't have to have the same rest rules?
Thats stupid.
Its no different than if regional said "But senator/administrator, we NEED our pilots to be able to fly 16 hour days and flip back and forth between day flight and continuous duty overnights - its how hour schedule is made!"
Thats stupid.
Its no different than if regional said "But senator/administrator, we NEED our pilots to be able to fly 16 hour days and flip back and forth between day flight and continuous duty overnights - its how hour schedule is made!"
02-03-2011, 11:14 AM
#5
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: Nov 2010
Posts: 548
Here come the Screw Job
Senator would exempt some pilots from safety rules
By JOAN LOWY
The Associated Press
Wednesday, February 2, 2011; 9:23 PM
WASHINGTON -- The pilots who fly U.S. troops around the world would be exempt from new safety rules being drafted to prevent overtired pilots from causing accidents under a proposal Wednesday in the Senate.
Sen. James Inhofe, R-Okla., offered an amendment to a bill that would authorize Federal Aviation Administration programs for the next two years. The amendment would prohibit the FAA from including nonscheduled airlines in new rules the agency is drafting on how many hours airlines can schedule pilots to be on duty and how much time they must be allowed for rest between work days.
Nonscheduled airlines like Evergreen International Airlines, Atlas Air Worldwide and World Airways fly 95 percent of U.S. troops and 40 percent of U.S. military cargo around the world, according to the National Air Carrier Association, an industry trade group.
The airlines say the unpredictable nature of their business means their pilots sometimes have to fly longer hours. However, FAA officials working on the new rules refused to create separate rules for nonscheduled airlines. FAA Administrator Randy Babbitt has said troops are as deserving of well-rested pilots as other airline passengers.
Fatigue has been cited as a factor in some air crashes. Sleep experts have told safety officials that fatigue has affects similar to alcohol, slowing pilots' response times and eroding their judgment.
Oakley Brooks, president of the carrier association, said nonscheduled airlines compensate for pilots' long duty days by giving them more time off between flights. He said nonscheduled airline pilots typically fly about 50 hours a month compared to about 75 hours a month for other airline pilots
Unable to persuade the FAA, industry has turned its attention to Congress.
"It is extremely important that we maintain separate yet safe flight and duty time rules for supplemental carriers," Inhofe said. "One size should not fit all, because supplemental airlines must continue to have the flexibility allowed under current rules to respond to customer demands. This includes both commercial and military."
The amendment would keep current rules for nonscheduled airlines in place. FAA could still draft separate rules for nonscheduled airlines, but it would have to start the arduous rulemaking process from the beginning.
Pilot unions oppose Inhofe's amendment. They say nonscheduled airline pilots get tired the same as other pilots.
"The fatigue issue at the nonskeds is dramatically worse than at the scheduled airlines under the current rules," said Joe Muckle, president of Airline Professionals Association Teamsters Local 1224, which represents about 2,800 nonscheduled airline pilots. For example, it's not unusual for pilots to fly to Europe and then to the Middle East and then back to Europe all in one duty period, he said.
By JOAN LOWY
The Associated Press
Wednesday, February 2, 2011; 9:23 PM
WASHINGTON -- The pilots who fly U.S. troops around the world would be exempt from new safety rules being drafted to prevent overtired pilots from causing accidents under a proposal Wednesday in the Senate.
Sen. James Inhofe, R-Okla., offered an amendment to a bill that would authorize Federal Aviation Administration programs for the next two years. The amendment would prohibit the FAA from including nonscheduled airlines in new rules the agency is drafting on how many hours airlines can schedule pilots to be on duty and how much time they must be allowed for rest between work days.
Nonscheduled airlines like Evergreen International Airlines, Atlas Air Worldwide and World Airways fly 95 percent of U.S. troops and 40 percent of U.S. military cargo around the world, according to the National Air Carrier Association, an industry trade group.
The airlines say the unpredictable nature of their business means their pilots sometimes have to fly longer hours. However, FAA officials working on the new rules refused to create separate rules for nonscheduled airlines. FAA Administrator Randy Babbitt has said troops are as deserving of well-rested pilots as other airline passengers.
Fatigue has been cited as a factor in some air crashes. Sleep experts have told safety officials that fatigue has affects similar to alcohol, slowing pilots' response times and eroding their judgment.
Oakley Brooks, president of the carrier association, said nonscheduled airlines compensate for pilots' long duty days by giving them more time off between flights. He said nonscheduled airline pilots typically fly about 50 hours a month compared to about 75 hours a month for other airline pilots
Unable to persuade the FAA, industry has turned its attention to Congress.
"It is extremely important that we maintain separate yet safe flight and duty time rules for supplemental carriers," Inhofe said. "One size should not fit all, because supplemental airlines must continue to have the flexibility allowed under current rules to respond to customer demands. This includes both commercial and military."
The amendment would keep current rules for nonscheduled airlines in place. FAA could still draft separate rules for nonscheduled airlines, but it would have to start the arduous rulemaking process from the beginning.
Pilot unions oppose Inhofe's amendment. They say nonscheduled airline pilots get tired the same as other pilots.
"The fatigue issue at the nonskeds is dramatically worse than at the scheduled airlines under the current rules," said Joe Muckle, president of Airline Professionals Association Teamsters Local 1224, which represents about 2,800 nonscheduled airline pilots. For example, it's not unusual for pilots to fly to Europe and then to the Middle East and then back to Europe all in one duty period, he said.
02-03-2011, 01:19 PM
#7
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: Aug 2007
Position: protecting my license until I get the next job.
Posts: 122
Having worked at a couple supplemental carriers, I was always confused why the rules seem to be loosened for the nonskeds. Seeing how you're operating on no set schedule, and often on some delayed schedule that makes knowing when to get a good sleep impossible, and into airports that may not be a regular stop for you, I'd think you'd wan a higher level safety consciousness.
For instance, and this is just me, you don't need a licensed dispatcher at a supplemental carrier. But you're expected to fly some strange route to some city you can't pronounce in a country that's younger than a few pairs of socks I own... wouldn't you think you'd need a bit more stringent requirements than flying from SAT to DAL 6 times a day, everyday? Nope, exact opposite.
Luckily, most the nonskeds see the value in having an actually licensed dispatcher working...
SO let's bend the rules for pilots flying military personnel... you can be tired, flying into (or close to) a war zone, in countries that tend not to like us that much anyways.. occasionally landing with the lights off until your damn close to the ground.... Yeah.. makes sense.
For instance, and this is just me, you don't need a licensed dispatcher at a supplemental carrier. But you're expected to fly some strange route to some city you can't pronounce in a country that's younger than a few pairs of socks I own... wouldn't you think you'd need a bit more stringent requirements than flying from SAT to DAL 6 times a day, everyday? Nope, exact opposite.
Luckily, most the nonskeds see the value in having an actually licensed dispatcher working...
SO let's bend the rules for pilots flying military personnel... you can be tired, flying into (or close to) a war zone, in countries that tend not to like us that much anyways.. occasionally landing with the lights off until your damn close to the ground.... Yeah.. makes sense.
02-03-2011, 01:30 PM
#8
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Position: On the boat.
Posts: 19
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