What is the proposed new FAA rest / commuting rules that are being discussed....and how will it impact the staffing levels at current airlines. I keep reading that they will go into play this fall...is that true.

 

Eagle ALPA has a teleconference for all members on a bunch of stuff, but they brought up the rest rules and said it is looking like 10hrs min scheduled overnight, reduceable to 9hrs for WX or MTX. They said it wouldnt be implemented for a few years 2010-2011 at the earliest I believe. Anyone else have info? There is a panel of industry executives, labor representatives and FAA officials all getting together to work on the new rules. Its generally accepted by all parties that the rules need to be changed to a longer min overnight for domestic rules.

 

The FAA (and all government agencies) have a proceedure they follow. (1) A problem is pointed out.
(2) The FAA works out a solution.
(3) A "Notice of Proposed Rulemaking" is issued in the Federal Register. That opens a (normally) 60 day comment window.
(4) At the end of the 60 days, for big issues, there may be a meeting of concerned parties.
(5) After the comment are looked over and the meetings are done, there may be a "Revised Notice of Rulemaking" with another comment window.
(6) Then after a group hug the Final Rule is published in the Federal Register. This will have the effective date, say 30 days after the publication date.

We're at step 1 right now. One of the last NPRMs I saw was whether to change Part 25 to allow yellow alerting lights in the cockpit along with amber. Don't hold your breath for any quick change.

 

I am still waiting for step 4,5 and 6 from 1992 when Babbitt then ALPA president did nothing to push for the changes back then. My money will be on the new rules will be watered down dramatically to satisfy companies and have enough of an appearance of doing something. ALPA wont do anything in the end as it did not the last time and since then has kept quiet.

 

You forgot step 7, where American sues in court to get the thing overturned or at least delayed

 

That panel is the ARC.

There is sometimes an ARC that will make recommendations to the FAA.

Seven ALPA Pilots Chosen for FAA ARC

The FAA is undertaking a comprehensive review of flight-time and duty-time (FT/DT) regulations to better reflect current research on sleep, rest periods, and alertness. The next phase of the process in updating FT/DT rules is to convene an Aviation Rulemaking Committee (ARC), a group made up of representatives from labor, industry, and the FAA, who will draft the proposed changes. Seven ALPA pilots have been selected to participate in this endeavor. ALPA’s executive administrator, Capt. Don Wykoff, will co-chair the ARC. Other pilots who will serve include Capt. Bill Soer (FDX), Capt. Darrel Cox (MSA), Capt. Greg Whiting (UAL), and Capt. Michael Hynes (CAL). Capt. Matt Rettig (EGL) and Capt. Peter Davis (ASA) will act as alternates.

These gentlemen will be crucial in helping other ARC participants understand the practical applications of the rules and the pilot perspective.
ALPA has long been a proponent of updating FT/DT regulations to better reflect the existing science. In a recent statement, ALPA president Capt. John Prater said, “Considering that the pilot flight-time and rest rules in use today were created more than 60 years ago, it becomes immediately clear that we need a swift and innovative approach to modernizing these standards.”
http://public.alpa.org/portals/alpa/...0090717.htm#03

 

Unless congress steps in like they did recently.



Highly unlikely in this case. These regs could save lives and improve conditions in the workplace. But it won't get them any votes ...

 

Congress might do it this time. The rulemaking process described above applies only to a federal agency such as the FAA. Congress can do anything they want, as quickly as they want, unless it is later overturned on constitutional grounds.

I suspect the FAA will follow through on this one, or they risk congress doing it for them.

The airlines will probably go along with FAA rules which they think will satisfy congress. If the new rules are TOO weak, a democrat-controlled congress might respond with a law which would be worse for the airlines than an FAA rule into which they have input.

 

That's fairly weak imo. The "reduceable" BS is what I don't like. The rest needs to be a hard number no building in loopholes. God forbid we delay the next days flight so the crew can get their proper rest. It seems to me like they're trying to do the absolute minimum here. 9 hours rest is unacceptable. Keep in mind train operators are getting a mandatory 12 hours now.

 

I long for the days when I flew in MAC and our crew rest ( landing to takeoff ) was 15+15 all the time.