ALPA adopts new flight-time/duty-timem policy

Chieftain

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By: Frances Fiorino
Aviation week

The Air Line Pilots Association has adopted a new flight-time/duty-time and rest policy that reflects latest scientific findings on fatigue and its affects on pilot performance.

The ALPA Executive Board's unanimous approval of an updated "fatigue policy" comes at the end of the pilot group's three-year drive to develop a science-based position. The policy will enable ALPA to set goals for regulatory reform as well as negotiate crew scheduling rules at contract talks, according to the pilot group.

The policy tackles fatigue in seven areas--rest, duty, extension of duty, cumulative fatigue, augmentation, reserve, and fatigue risk management systems. For example, to determine the length of a pilot's flight-/duty-time period, the policy considers the time of day when a pilot reports for duty.

Circadian rhythms are also taken into consideration. Pilots reporting for flight duty in the 7 a.m.-12:59 p.m. time period, and who have a 13-hour flight-duty period with a nine-hour flight-time limit, would be in compliance. However, the policy sets a maximum nine-hour flight-duty period with a seven-hour flight time limit for pilots who report for work between midnight and 3:59 a. m. - because that time period runs contrary to natural circadian rhythms.

The policy is in harmony with the International Federation of Air Line Pilots' Assns. (IFALPA) and the International Civil Aviation Organization, according to ALPA.

The group's announcement also precedes the FAA's yearend goal of issuing proposed rulemaking that is expected to revamp decades-old flight/duty-time rules. FAA Administrator Randy Babbitt has indicated that the proposed rules would be based on latest findings on fatigue science. Among many factors, the proposed rules would consider setting duty limits based on circadian rhythms, as well as the type of operations a pilot is flying, such as ultra-long-haul or multiple daily short hops.

ALPA President Prater noted, however, that the contents of the FAA's proposed rule will not be known until it is published. However, "If the FAA considers ALPA's new policy, and those of other international aviation safety organizations, the result should be a regulation that sets the pace for progress in combating pilot fatigue around the globe."
 
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Boeingstore

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solo esperemos lo mejor para los pilotos..... ahora es que lo traten de hacer una ley, algunas aerolineas no todas son ALPA.... veremos si se hace ley esto oh no..
 
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