After the Colgan accident, a lot of regulations changed in the industry. Some of what changed is flight and duty requirements based on when the pilots day begins. According the FAA website, "The new rule incorporates the latest fatigue science to set different requirements for pilot flight time, duty period and rest based on the time of day pilots begin their first flight, the number of scheduled flight segments and the number of time zones they cross." This is different from the previous regulations because they did not take into account time zones and other factors involved in the new regulations. There is also a 10 hour minimum rest rule. Within this 10 hour minimum rest rule, pilots must be able to get 8 hours of uninterrupted sleep. This regulation has changed since the old rule was only 8 hours of minimum rest.
Cargo carriers have a different set of rules and regulations which has caused a bit of controversy. According to ALPA.org, "U.S. domestic pilots have a flight-time maximum of 30 hours in 7 days, while flag pilots are allowed up to 32 hours in 7 days. Supplemental pilots can fly 48 hours in a 6-day period, or 60 percent more than domestic pilots." This has caused a controversy because cargo pilots believe that isn't fair that they don't have the same rules as domestic carriers. I feel like cargo carriers were excluded from this rule for more then one reason. The main reason is that it would cost the carriers a lot more to hire more pilots to fill in the absence of the pilots they would have had if they were to switch to the new regulations. The other rule that I believe the cargo carriers have been excluded from the rule is because they do not carry passengers. Personally I don't agree with this rule because there are still lives on board the aircraft and all lives matter. With that being said, of course I believe they should be under the new rules. It isn't fair for them when they are doing the same job but they aren't carrying any passengers.
If cargo carriers were to change over to these new rules, from the management side you would have to hire more pilots immediately. All of the extra hours that would have been filled with pilots can no longer be filled because pilots get longer rest requirements. Also, needing more pilots affects your budget as a company which means you would have to increase your prices, or some aspect in order to make up for the new budgeting.
References
1. Press Release – FAA Issues Final Rule on Pilot Fatigue. (n.d.). Retrieved October 19, 2015, from https://www.faa.gov/news/press_releases/news_story.cfm?newsId=13272
2. Flight Time/Duty Time for Air Cargo. (n.d.). Retrieved October 19, 2015, from http://www2.alpa.org/alpa/DesktopModules/ViewAnnDocument.aspx?DocumentID=5524
You make some very good points, but something you should consider is the political contributions that cargo carriers have paid since President Obama took office. UPS and FedEx alone have contributed more that $140 million to the administration, and it is shown that this helped to make them exempt.
ReplyDeleteI like that you bring up that both pilots do the same job so they both should have the same rule. All lives should be treated the same, especially when it comes to safety. It isn't fair or safe to have different standards.
ReplyDeleteThere are some interesting facts in this argument I like the statement you made when you said "This has caused a controversy because cargo pilots believe that isn't fair that they don't have the same rules as domestic carriers". This is a very true fact I believe all carriers should have the same carrier instead of giving certain sector s different ones.
ReplyDeleteI agree that cargo carriers should have to follow the new rules. I imagine that it will be a lot harder for cargo carriers to hire qualified pilots without lowering their standards. I remember that one of last week’s presenters said that Kalitta had to lower their flight hour qualifications so I don’t think that it is unreasonable that other carriers did the same to compete.
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