Cargo Pilots Fatigue

The FAA announce an improvement on pilots fatigue rules after the accident of Colgan Air3407, to improve the safety of the operation and the fatigue of the pilots, one of the change is the minimum rest hour of the pilot will be increase from 8hour to 10hour. (FAA, 2011) The allowable length of a flight duty is also adjusted according to the beginning time of the flight and number of the segment, which is in a range of 9-14 hours. Also limited the flight time of 8-9 hours of the pilot’s duty period. (FAA, 2011)

According to the FAA website and U.S government publish website, I have found the operation requirement for both the flag operation and supplemental operation, and tried the difference between these 2 requirements, clearly the operation requirement for the flag operation is more strict and detailed compare to the supplemental operation. For example for the flag operators there is a rule states “No pilot may fly more than 32 hours during any seven consecutive days, and each pilot must be relieved from all duty for at least 24 consecutive hours at least once during any seven consecutive days”(ECFR, 2016) however this rule can’t be find in supplemental operation. For the supplemental pilot it only states that” Each certificate holder conducting supplemental operations shall relieve each pilot from all duty for at least 24 consecutive hours at least once during any seven consecutive days.”(ECFR, 2016)  Furthermore there are requirements for flag operation that the rest period need to be given to pilot who is continuously flying for more than 8 hours, however in cargo operation the pilot can continue flying for more than 8 hours but less than 10 hours without resting period if the aircraft meets certain requirements(ECFR, 2016).

According to the FAA statement, “Covering cargo operators under the new rule would be too costly compared to the benefits generated in this portion of the industry”(FAA, 2011) Which show that FAA thinks that it is less beneficial for cargo operation comparing to the passengers operation, and they think it is too costly. I think one of t the safety requirement is not as high as passenger operation mainly because there are no life on board, that’s why they have a higher standard for safety it is mainly due to the value of life, and they don’t feel like change rule for cargos, and cargos might generate lesser profit compare to passenger, so that they don’t want to enforce the cargo operator to follow the rules.

I think Cargo operation should be included into the new rules, firstly I think the life of the pilots is the same no matter if they are transporting passenger or cargo, the rule will be forcing cargo operators to follow the rule and give more rest period for the cargo pilots. As well know fatigue is one of the hazard of the aviation safety. This hazard should be eliminated regardless if they pilots are transporting passengers or cargo. Also cargo planes mostly operates at night time and the equipment is more aged, so they need more attention, fatigue could cause more hazard to cargo pilots than passenger pilots.

For me as a future manager I think it is there would be some impact for me, if I am working for cargo operators in the future, the first impact I would think is a significant increase a cost which means managers need to hire more pilots for the same amount of hours. The company might stress manager to cut budget or save cost in elsewhere, However as a manager I would think the safety is priority concern for the aviation industry, I still support that cargo operator should be following the rule as well.

Reference

Press Release – FAA Issues Final Rule on Pilot Fatigue. (n.d.). Retrieved from https://www.faa.gov/news/press_releases/news_story.cfm?newsId=13272

ECFR 121.503. (n.d.). Retrieved February 09, 2016, from http://www.ecfr.gov/cgi-bin/text-idx?SID=5d27eb1f0c982be9486a3665a87be155

ECFR PART121.481. (n.d.). Retrieved from http://www.ecfr.gov/cgi-bin/text-idx?SID=5d27eb1f0c982be9486a3665a87be155