U.S. to Impose Tougher Rules for Pilot Rest on Long Routes

Bucking opposition from U.S. airlines, federal regulators have issued rules aimed at reducing the hazards of pilot fatigue during the longest international flights.
After 18 months of debate between some airline officials and the Federal Aviation Administration, the agency intends to impose tougher crew-rest requirements and other safety measures on flights operated by AMR Corp.'s American Airlines and Continental Airlines Inc. between the U.S. and India. Over time, the rules are designed to apply to all U.S. carriers flying so-called ultra-long-range flights, which can last 16 hours or longer.
The new rules mandate that pilots on the longest routes get at least 40 to 48 hours of rest after arriving, for example, in India from the East Coast of the U.S. Rules now require shorter rests.
Continental and American resisted mandating the longer rest periods. The carriers also objected to other special restrictions involving the training and qualifications of the pilots on board.
Airlines that keep pilots sitting idle for shorter periods at foreign destinations enjoy significant labor-cost savings. But pilot-union leaders and independent safety experts contend the result may be an erosion of safety margins if tired crews have to cope with unusual situations or in-flight emergencies.
The general operating rules issued by the agency recently -- as well as specific rules proposed for individual carriers -- basically track those Delta Airlines Inc. voluntarily agreed to in late 2006. Since then, American and Continental have balked at some elements and tried to persuade the FAA to change them.
Instead, the agency has opted to require enhanced rest periods even when only 10% of the flights on some routes exceed 16 hours.
14/11/08 Andy Pasztor/Wall Street Journal

To Read the News in full at Source, Click the Headline

Categories: Foreign Nov 2008