Mark Szakonyi, Associate Editor | May 18, 2012 11:13AM EDT
The Federal Aviation Administration is reconsidering expanding fatigue rules to air cargo pilots, not just passenger plane pilots, after the agency admitted “errors” in calculating the cost-benefit ratio analysis of the recent mandate.
Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood said that last year DOT couldn’t make a “cost benefit” case for including express airline pilots, particularly because those pilots generally fly at night as a matter of course. The decision to exempt cargo pilots drew the ire of the Independent Pilots Association, the union representing FedEx Express and UPS pilots.
A House bipartisan bill was introduced last month that would require cargo pilots to take eight of hours of rest between shifts when the overall Federal Aviation Administration rules take effect Jan. 14, 2014.
"Make no mistake, this is not a final victory," said IPA General Counsel William Travis. "However, getting the FAA to reconsider this critical safety issue under the bright light of full public scrutiny and accountability is an important first step."
Contact Mark Szakonyi at mszakonyi@joc.com. Follow him on Twitter @szakonyi_joc.
