Pilot FatigueInformation provided by ALPA Pilot FatigueInformation provided by ALPA

Preventing Pilot Fatigue
Information provided by ALPA's Flight Time/Duty Time Committee

Menu
Home
Recent News
Principles
• 8 hours max flying
• 12 hours max on duty
• 10 hours min rest
• Fundamental Principles
FT/DT Guide (vers. 6)
New! JEPPESEN FORMAT
Fatigue Resources
• Batelle Report
• ALPA NPRM 95-18 Comment
• Fatigue, Alcohol and Performance
• NASA TM
• Additional Resources
• ALPA News Releases
• Air Line Pilot Magazine
FAA Interpretations
• Reserve Rest
  - Reserve Rest Q & A
• FAR Max Duty Day
• ATA v. FAA
    (Opinion of Court)
FAA Correspondence
Questions? Comments?
ALPA Home Page

 

 News: 

- 5-20-04: FAA "Reinterprets Its Interpretation" of the Do Not Call Letter, But Good News Follows on Two Other Developments

FAA’s Chief Counsel issued a "clarification" of their November 7, 2003 interpretative letter that referenced a "Do Not Call" notice which pilots could submit to their air carrier.

- 11-21-03: ALPA gets FAA interpretation clarifying rest rules

The FAA has clarified the domestic flight limitation rules that specify that pilots must receive a minimum uninterrupted rest.  It has always been the rule that a pilot is under no obligation to respond to the air carrier during a required rest period.  The FAA has clarified the rule, which limits an air carrier to a single contact during a rest period if the pilot chooses to voluntarily answer the call.  In a further clarification, the FAA has said the pilot may advise the carrier that he/she does not want to be called during the required period.  If the carrier does not honor the pilot's request for an uninterrupted rest, then the beginning of the rest period must be reset to the time of the phone call interrupting the rest period.

- 12-20-02: ALPA Wins Court Reinstatement of Pilot Terminated for Following FAA Rules on Rest Requirements

- 16 Hour Duty Limit Fully Implemented By The FAA

- Court upholds reinstatement of pilot who refused to exceed 16 hours duty. (Order | Memorandum Opinion)

- Court Upholds the “Whitlow Letter” 16-Hour Duty Limit

The ALPA Flight Time/Duty Time Committee believes the definition of flight time limitations in civil aircrew is based on two fundamental principles:

  • The first is that the duty schedule should not prevent the aircrew from ensuring that they are fully rested at the start of each duty period. Particular problems can arise when duty periods encroach on the normal sleep time, or when the normal sleep pattern is disturbed by time zone transitions. In these circumstances the provision of adequate time for rest is essential.
  • The second principle is that the duration and timing of individual duty periods must enable the aircrew to maintain acceptable levels of alertness at all times.

The minimum limits that the Committee believes are necessary to prevent pilot fatigue and ensure safe flight operations are:

  • Establish One Flight Time/Duty Time for all airline pilots
    - Domestic, International; Scheduled and Non-scheduled
  • Maintain the current 8-Hour flight time limit with absolutely no increase 
  • Reduce the maximum scheduled duty time to 12 hours
      - Further restrict duty time for midnight-to-dawn flights
  • Institute a minimum of 10 hours off-duty break (to allow an 8-hour sleep opportunity