The FAA last month proposed new pilot duty-time limitations and rest requirements for Part 121 carriers that stand to alter scheduling practices and hiring needs profoundly across the U.S. airline industry. Unveiled on September 10 at DOT headquarters by FAA Administrator Randy Babbitt and DOT Secretary Ray LaHood, the NPRM 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 today’s requirement.
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. The proposal includes provisions related to a pilot’s commute, including consideration of commute time when determining rest periods, and consideration of flight and duty time in relation to a pilot’s “home base.”
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