• The NTSB finds pilot fatigue as a contributing cause of American Airlines Flight 1420 accident at Little Rock, Arkansas on June 1, 1999. (Click here to see abstract of the Report).

• October 24:  New York Times article, "Safety Panel Nudges Agency on Revising Pilot Rest Rules"
• September 12: Captain Duane Woerth's letter to FAA Administrator Jane Garvey expressing his disappointment over the Court Stay of Pilot Fatigue Ruling
• September 10: ALPA Irate Over Court Stay of Pilot Fatigue Rule
• September 10: D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals Issues Order Staying Enforcement of FAA’s 16-Hour Duty Limit Pending the Court’s Review
• July 27: ALPA's brief filed in opposition of ATA's motion to stay enforcement of the 16 hour duty limit
• July 16: USA Today article 'Airlines resist move to relieve tired pilots'
• June 25: ALPA Chief Says Pilot Fatigue Is a Real Safety Issue in Canada
• June 14: ALPA Chief Blasts Airlines’ Attempt to Evade Pilot Fatigue Rule
• May 24: ALPA Calls On FAA To Quit Stalling And Act To Modernize Flight Time/Duty Time Regulations
• May 17: Memo to all MEC Chairman re: FAA Notice
• May 17: FAA Notice published in the Federal Register
• May 14: The FAA Announces 16-Hour Rule Enforcement Policy

This interpretation requires that pilots must project the arrival time at their destination, taking into consideration actual delays and weather prior to takeoff to ensure that they can be released to rest within 15 hours of the time they report to duty. This release time increases to 16 hours if the rest period was reduced.

There have been numerous rumors and "reports" that (1) Air Transport Association will get the interpretation overturned so it need not be followed; (2) it doesn't apply to your airline; (3) FAA Principal Operations Inspectors (POI's) don't agree with the interpretation and won't enforce it, so your airline does not have to comply; (4) it's just a letter to a private individual and doesn't apply to your airline; (5) companies have 6 months before they must comply. None of these rumors is true. The notice makes it clear that the interpretation is now in effect for all Part 121 and 135 operators in domestic operations. This interpretation is the FAA's ruling as to what its regulations say with regard to required rest and the duty limits.

The FAA will shortly issue instructions to all POI's regarding enforcement of the interpretation. In the interim, the FAA indicated that its focus for enforcement and compliance of this interpretation is an air carrier issue. In other words, at this time the FAA is not interested in pursuing enforcement action against individual pilots. The FAA is interested in any pilot reports of schedules that require a pilot to exceed 16 hours of duty and/or any intimidation by management of pilots who refuse to continue beyond 16 hours. Please click here to send an e-mail report of intimidation to the Legal Department so that we can provide this information to the FAA. You do not have to be an ALPA pilot. The FAA is interested in all instances of abuse.

ALPA is continuing to press for a flight time regulation that provides for a 12-hour duty period and other limitations to prevent pilot fatigue.