NTSB Says FAA's Response to Fatigue Issues "Unacceptable"

[mushroom]

Of course, this is relevant to all sections of this web site, but possibly more so to those of us working for the scumbag cargo operators. I'm not holding my breath waiting for the FAA to actually do anything. A NPRM was issued in 1995 for revision to the duty time limitations. They sure have done a lot in the intervening 13 YEARS. uke:

From "Aviation International News":

NTSB Tired of FAA’s Inaction on Pilot Fatigue

The NTSB has called the FAA’s response "unacceptable” to four out of six safety recommendations addressing human fatigue and duty-time limitations. The agency issued the report to coincide with National Sleep Awareness Week. “The Safety Board is very concerned about reducing accidents and incidents caused by human fatigue,” NTSB chairman Mark Rosenker said, adding that fatigue was a probable cause or contributing factor in “numerous” accidents. The recommendations include requiring training, check flights, ferry and repositioning flights to be included in a pilot’s total revenue time; ensuring that flight and duty time limitations take into consideration research findings in fatigue and sleep issues; reviewing the issue of personnel fatigue in aviation maintenance; and taking into consideration the length of a duty day, starting time and workload when assigning flight crew hours. The FAA has not to date altered a 2001 Federal Register notice that calls for eight hours of rest in any 24-hour period that includes flight time. An FAA spokesman told AIN, “We believe the rules and guidance we have in place are fundamentally sound.”

 

[Draginass]

The companies "own" the FAA. The FAA is ineffective and feckless especially when it comes to oversight of the scumbag freight operators.

 

[Coffee Pot]

An FAA spokesman told AIN, “We believe the rules and guidance we have in place are fundamentally sound.”

Sounds eerily similar to a recent quote by JO. These statements clearly demonstrate a huge disconnect between the FAA (one of the great enforcers of safety) and the operations that actually take place in the real world. Scary to think that similar views are held by JO and FAA on this issue. Tell me how "fudamentally sound" it is for a pilot to work a 16 hour day, then get 5 hours of sleep, then work another 16 hour day.

What's it gonna take?

 

[Nolife]

What's it gonna take?

Unfortunately the old adage "tombstone technology" comes to mind. The industry won't change until some high profile accident happens and the public mandates change.

Sadly, the Feds haven't learned anything from Amercian in LIT; or even several prior incidents and accidents attributable to pilot fatigue.

More clearly defined duty and rest rules are desparetly needed.

 

[dojetdriver]

Unfortunately the old adage "tombstone technology" comes to mind. The industry won't change until some high profile accident happens and the public mandates change.

Sadly, the Feds haven't learned anything from Amercian in LIT; or even several prior incidents and accidents attributable to pilot fatigue.

More clearly defined duty and rest rules are desparetly needed.

You can add Corpex (after LIT) to that as well. Like you said, it will have to be written with blood.

Sadly, they are ALWAYS able to find other circumstances that overshadow the fatigue issue.

 

[The_Russian]

The companies "own" the FAA. The FAA is ineffective and feckless especially when it comes to oversight of the scumbag freight operators.

Correct.

 

[The_Russian]

The companies "own" the FAA. The FAA is ineffective and feckless especially when it comes to oversight of the scumbag freight operators.

Correct.