Regulations and Government
Commentary: Duty and flight time limitations
Now, after being somewhat dormant on the subject for a number of years, the Federal Aviation Administration has expressed concern about airline pilot duty

Now, after being somewhat dormant on the subject for a number of years, the Federal Aviation Administration has expressed concern about airline pilot duty days, which according to the Federal Aviation Regulations allow for a 16-hr duty day with no more than eight hours flying time. Aware that weather delays and airport congestion may cause circumstances that require airline pilots to extend their duty day beyond the maximum allowed, the FAA has called the attention of the airlines to the 16-hr duty day limit, which includes any unforeseen delays, and has given the airline industry until mid-November to adjust schedules so that the regulations
are not breached.

The FAA has been mulling over writing new regulations since 1995 and, at last report, has indicated that the industry can expect to see new proposals by the end of this year.