Fatigue Risk Management Plans

[kmox29]

From FAA Notice N8900.131:

1. Purpose of This Notice. This notice introduces the upcoming requirement for Title 14 of the Code of Federal Regulations (14 CFR) part 121 air carriers to develop Fatigue Risk Management Plans (FRMP).

4. Background. Congress, reflecting high public interest in the subject of fatigue in air carrier operations, has passed the Airline Safety and Federal Aviation Administration Extension Act of 2010. Section 212(b) of the Act requires that each air carrier conducting operations under part 121 must submit an FRMP to the Administrator for review and acceptance no later than October 31, 2010. In addition, the FAA will complete a review and either accept or reject the air carrier’s FRMP no later than August 2, 2011.

5. Discussion. Detailed guidance to air carriers on FRMP content will soon be published. In the meantime, this notice will provide the basic concept to ASIs so that they can understand how this FRMP effort fits into the overall management of air carriers. Information for Operators (InFO) 10013, Fatigue Risk Management Plans (FRMP) for Part 121 Air Carriers—Part One, which contains much of the same information as this notice, is being distributed to the industry concurrently. The intent is to make the industry aware that the detailed guidance will soon be published.

a. Policies and Procedures. An air carrier’s FRMP is a management plan outlining specific policies and procedures for reducing the risks of flightcrew member fatigue and improving flightcrew member alertness. The FRMP policies and procedures should focus on the air carrier’s specific kind of operations (e.g., domestic, flag, and supplemental) and the type of operations (e.g., continuous duty overnights, night versus day operations, cargo versus passenger operations, short-haul versus long haul, etc.).

Note that there are distinct differences between a FRMP and an overall Fatigue Risk Management System (FRMS). Most importantly, a FRMP is a requirement for each part 121 air carrier, while an FRMS is a separate, optional system based upon scientific principles and data application that an air carrier would use for fatigue mitigation and enhancing flightcrew alertness during operations that are specifically conducive to fatigue.

http://fsims.faa.gov


***No teeth yet, but it seems the FAA is getting closer to addressing a problem that should have been solved YEARS ago.

 

[DrewBlows]

I have a fatigue management idea...how about the FAA implement scientifically sound duty time and rest regulations so that unions don't have to do regulator's jobs? Until that happens there will always be a turd-bag operation pushing pilots to (and beyond) the FAA limit.

 

[kmox29]

...how about the FAA implement scientifically sound duty time and rest regulations...

I agree. From what I've been reading, that is the plan. Unfortunately, it took the Colgan accident to force the issue and it appears to be moving forward at the speed of Government.

 

[PCL_128]

I have a fatigue management idea...how about the FAA implement scientifically sound duty time and rest regulations so that unions don't have to do regulator's jobs? Until that happens there will always be a turd-bag operation pushing pilots to (and beyond) the FAA limit.

This same piece of legislation requires that to be done within 12 months of the date of signing, which was about two weeks ago. By this time next year, it will be done.

 

[ImbracableCrunk]

And the RAA and IATA are opening their coffers to make sure the lobbyists are well funded so pilots can see the light. And the night. And another day after that. All in one duty period.

 

[PBRstreetgang]

At the regional level it will be methamphetamine, as much as you want, you will have to buy it from the company, payroll deductible.
PBR

 

[Gr82Aviate]

At the regional level it will be methamphetamine, as much as you want, you will have to buy it from the company, payroll deductible.
PBR

They'll offer the first "hit" free(mixed in with an extra large serving of fresh kool-aid) for all new hires!

 

[Raoul Duke]

bunch of pansies, this is why coffee and redbull were invented

 

[pilotyip]

It better include authorized sleeping in the cockpit, like many countries in the world allow. This is a proven fatigue relief, that ensure an alert crew during the final phases of the flight. There is no rest policy that will keep a crew fresh for all flights. As someone else posted here it is the PIC's duty to determine if he can safely make the trip. You cannot regulate that beyond common sense. In the 80's we used to fly overnights from Spain or Iceland back to Detroit in the reserves. Get in at 0100 on Monday morning; airlines pilots would have trips with report times of 0600. They were 100% legal because they had not been assigned a duty by the company during their off time and the they had not engaged in other commercial flying. But were they rested?

 

[DrewBlows]

It better include authorized sleeping in the cockpit, like many countries in the world allow. This is a proven fatigue relief, that ensure an alert crew during the final phases of the flight. There is no rest policy that will keep a crew fresh for all flights. As someone else posted here it is the PIC's duty to determine if he can safely make the trip. You cannot regulate that beyond common sense. In the 80's we used to fly overnights from Spain or Iceland back to Detroit in the reserves. Get in at 0100 on Monday morning; airlines pilots would have trips with report times of 0600. They were 100% legal because they had not been assigned a duty by the company during their off time and the they had not engaged in other commercial flying. But were they rested?

You are 100% right, but it will never happen. When the media gets a hold of it, the headline will read "FAA Considering Letting Pilots Sleep in Cockpit: Planes to Begin Falling Out of the Sky Next Year."