Pilot Fatigue; Factor in Aviation Accidents
Airlines in the U.S. are flying longer hours than ever before, and yet, aviation rules that ensure pilots get enough rest between long haul flights remain insufficient.
Pilot fatigue has played a role in several recent plane crashes. Federal aviation rules defining rest hours for crew members, including pilots, have not done much to address the increasing number of long hauls that many pilots with major airlines routinely undertake. In 2006, Delta Airlines introduced its own measures for rest hours for pilots just as it began offering non-stop Mumbai-New York flights, a journey of more than 16 hours. Last year, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) established standards for work and rest hours for crew members, based on the measures Delta used. However, there have been concerns from other airlines that the FAA failed to follow normal procedures for development of new regulations. The new standards fix the number of hours a pilot can be on duty at 23. Pilots must also have 24 hours of rest before the flight. Additionally, pilots must be allowed 48 hours of rest during layovers and an extra rest period during flights.
In December, American Airlines and Continental Airlines, among others, filed a lawsuit seeking a standard procedure for the development of new FAA rules. According to representatives of these airlines, they have a problem with the way FAA went about formulating the new regulations. Critics of the airlines, including the pilots' unions, have called the lawsuit an attempt by the airlines to delay enforcement of the new regulations, which will be more costly to enforce. Currently, airlines are required to provide only 24 hours of rest to pilots at the destination city. There are no such requirements for pilots on reserve.
Pilot fatigue has been an issue of concern for many aviation experts. The National Transportation Safety Board confirms that pilot fatigue has been linked to “many accidents” including a Delta connection flight in 2007, in which the plane overran the runway while attempting a landing. Pilots' unions are also calling for studies to determine if having 4 pilots on a flight is sufficient for long range flights.
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