Dave Benjamin
an over 40 victim of fate
- Joined
- Jun 12, 2003
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Article in USA Today - Be sure to read the quote near the bottom from Jenny Dervin, JetBlue spokewoman
U.S. airline pilots complaining more about fatigue
WASHINGTON (Reuters) — A growing number of U.S. airline pilots are complaining about fatigue from longer work days brought on by crew schedule changes at airlines that have restructured, or continue to restructure in bankruptcy, the nation's top pilots' union said Thursday.
The Air Line Pilots Association also said at least one airline, JetBlue Airways, is pressuring regulators for an exemption to federal limits on crew time, especially on long-haul flights.
JetBlue says it would like more flexibility to improve quality of life for pilots, not for economic reasons.
The union represents aviators at the biggest airlines that have sought bankruptcy since 2002 — United Airlines, US Airways, Northwest Airlines and Delta Air Lines as well as some smaller carriers.
Regulations limit pilots to eight hours of flying time on domestic service in any 24-hour period. But actual work days negotiated in union contracts — including flight preparation and airport down time — were usually capped around 16 hours.
In reality, thousands of ALPA pilots at struggling carriers worked less than 14 hours daily until their companies gutted contracts and sought more productivity in bankruptcy to compete better with nimble low-cost rivals. Any schedule cushions in previous contracts have been eroded by restructuring.
"It used to be 80% of the industry had a 14-hour duty day. But now most of that is gone. It's just gone," Duane Woerth, president of the pilots' union, told reporters.
Woerth said financially struggling carriers are at "bare bones" scheduling minimums and complaints are growing from pilots who are flying within the rules but spending more time on the job.
He also said healthier airlines that have managed their crews productively are seeking more efficiency. For instance, Woerth said JetBlue is exploring an exemption from crew scheduling regulations for some long flights.
"My concern is that they're (airlines) going to try and chip away at the minimums we have right now for the good of the consumer and productivity enhancements," Woerth said.
The union says carriers are watching closely to see if JetBlue seeks a waiver from Federal Aviation Administration on crew flight time.
"We don't think pilot scheduling rules are sacred cows. They should be open to examination," said JetBlue spokeswoman Jenny Dervin.
Last year, JetBlue ran tests that exceeded the eight-hour flying time limit. A consulting firm is analyzing the data and preliminary results could be available in a month, Dervin said.
The goal, she said, is to find out if changes in flying hours would improve quality of life for pilots. "We don't see any financial benefit to our business whatsoever," Dervin said.
About half of JetBlue's 355 daily flights are long-haul service. The carrier has the most flights of any airline between New York and the West Coast — 25 per day.
U.S. airline pilots complaining more about fatigue
WASHINGTON (Reuters) — A growing number of U.S. airline pilots are complaining about fatigue from longer work days brought on by crew schedule changes at airlines that have restructured, or continue to restructure in bankruptcy, the nation's top pilots' union said Thursday.
The Air Line Pilots Association also said at least one airline, JetBlue Airways, is pressuring regulators for an exemption to federal limits on crew time, especially on long-haul flights.
JetBlue says it would like more flexibility to improve quality of life for pilots, not for economic reasons.
The union represents aviators at the biggest airlines that have sought bankruptcy since 2002 — United Airlines, US Airways, Northwest Airlines and Delta Air Lines as well as some smaller carriers.
Regulations limit pilots to eight hours of flying time on domestic service in any 24-hour period. But actual work days negotiated in union contracts — including flight preparation and airport down time — were usually capped around 16 hours.
In reality, thousands of ALPA pilots at struggling carriers worked less than 14 hours daily until their companies gutted contracts and sought more productivity in bankruptcy to compete better with nimble low-cost rivals. Any schedule cushions in previous contracts have been eroded by restructuring.
"It used to be 80% of the industry had a 14-hour duty day. But now most of that is gone. It's just gone," Duane Woerth, president of the pilots' union, told reporters.
Woerth said financially struggling carriers are at "bare bones" scheduling minimums and complaints are growing from pilots who are flying within the rules but spending more time on the job.
He also said healthier airlines that have managed their crews productively are seeking more efficiency. For instance, Woerth said JetBlue is exploring an exemption from crew scheduling regulations for some long flights.
"My concern is that they're (airlines) going to try and chip away at the minimums we have right now for the good of the consumer and productivity enhancements," Woerth said.
The union says carriers are watching closely to see if JetBlue seeks a waiver from Federal Aviation Administration on crew flight time.
"We don't think pilot scheduling rules are sacred cows. They should be open to examination," said JetBlue spokeswoman Jenny Dervin.
Last year, JetBlue ran tests that exceeded the eight-hour flying time limit. A consulting firm is analyzing the data and preliminary results could be available in a month, Dervin said.
The goal, she said, is to find out if changes in flying hours would improve quality of life for pilots. "We don't see any financial benefit to our business whatsoever," Dervin said.
About half of JetBlue's 355 daily flights are long-haul service. The carrier has the most flights of any airline between New York and the West Coast — 25 per day.
