WASHINGTON, D.C. (Press Release) – U.S. Senator Barbara Boxer (D-California) sent a letter to Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Administrator Michael Huerta on Thursday, June 19, urging him to close a loophole that left cargo pilots out of new rest rules and permits them to fly with less rest than commercial pilots.
“In January, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) finalized a rule that set minimum rest and duty requirements to combat pilot fatigue,” Senator Boxer wrote. “While I support this new rule, I am disappointed and alarmed that the FAA decided to exempt cargo pilots from its requirements.”
In February, the National Transportation Safety Board released a never-before-heard conversation between pilots of the tragic Birmingham, Alabama cargo plane crash displaying their concern for their own fatigue, and for the differing rules on rest for cargo pilots as opposed to passenger pilots. Captain Cerea Beal Jr. and First Officer Shanda Fannin were both killed in the crash.
In light of that heartbreaking conversation, Senator Boxer called on Administrator Huerta to close the loophole administratively. She wrote, “To ensure that we have one level of safety for all pilots, I urge you to use your authority to update this rule and extend the rest and duty requirements to cover cargo pilots in the same manner as passenger pilots, as Congress intended.”
After the tragic 2009 crash of Colgan Flight 3407 outside of Buffalo, Congress passed legislation by Senator Boxer and Olympia Snowe (R-ME) that directed the Department of Transportation (DOT) to write new rules to address pilot fatigue. Under the new requirements – which went into effect in January – pilots of passenger planes are limited to flying either eight or nine hours, depending on the start time. Airlines will be
required to provide pilots with a minimum of 10 rest hours, with the opportunity for at least eight hours of uninterrupted sleep.
However, pilots of cargo planes were left out of the DOT’s new rest rules, allowing cargo pilots to be on duty for up to 16 hours a day – 60 percent longer than other pilots.
In November 2013, Senator Boxer was joined by Senators Cantwell and Klobuchar to introduce the Safe Skies Act, legislation that would ensure that America’s cargo plane pilots are sufficiently rested and alert before they fly. The bill has the support of the Airline Pilots Association, the Independent Pilots Association and the Coalition of Airline Pilots Associations.
*
Preceding provided by Senator Barbara Boxer of California …. Articles in San Diego Jewish World on Jewish Democratic women in the U.S. Senate and House of Representatives are sponsored by Laura Galinson in memory of her father, Murray Galinson.