The FAA today proposed new pilot duty-time limitations and rest requirements for Part 121 carriers that stand to profoundly alter scheduling practices and hiring needs across the U.S. airline industry. The NPRM, unveiled this afternoon at DOT headquarters by FAA Administrator Randy Babbitt and DOT Secretary Ray LaHood, includes the imposition of a nine-hour rest period before duty, as opposed to today’s eight-hour minimum, and a mandate calling for 30 consecutive hours of off-duty time every week, which translates into a 25-percent increase over current requirements.
Other features include a single rule for domestic, international and unscheduled flights, a new approach to measuring a rest period that guarantees an opportunity for eight hours of sleep and varied requirements based on time of day, number of scheduled segments, flight types, time zones and the likelihood that a pilot can sleep under different circumstances.
