Amendment to Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) reauthorization bill would close dangerous loophole by ensuring that cargo pilots have the same rest rules as pilots of passenger planes
"Cargo airline operations share the same airspace, the same runways, and the same airports as the rest of the airline industry and the flying public, and should also share the same safety rules when it comes to pilot fatigue," said Senator Klobuchar. "A tired pilot - whether they are a cargo pilot or a passenger pilot - is a danger to themself, to others in the air, and to those on the ground. We shouldn't have to wait for more tragedies before we close this gap in aviation safety and I call on all my colleagues to support this critical amendment."
After the tragic 2009 crash of Colgan Flight 3407 outside of Buffalo, Congress passed bipartisan legislation that directed the Department of Transportation (DOT) to write new rules to address pilot fatigue. Under the new requirements, pilots of passenger planes are limited to flying either eight or nine hours, depending on the start time. Airlines are 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 rest rules, allowing cargo pilots to be on duty for up to 16 hours a day, 60 percent longer than other pilots. The amendment to the FAA bill would close this dangerous loophole and ensure that all pilots are flying under the same standards. The Airline Pilots Association (ALPA), the Independent Pilots Association (IPA) and the Coalition of Airline Pilots Associations (CAPA) all support the legislation.
Sullenberger was hailed as a national hero when he successfully executed an emergency water landing of US Airways Flight 1549 in the Hudson River after the aircraft was disabled by striking a flock of geese during its initial climb out of LaGuardia Airport on January 15, 2009. All of the 155 passengers and crew aboard the aircraft survived.
