Airline Pilots Urge Capitol Hill to Enhance Fatigue Rules for All-Cargo Operations
The Safe Skies Act Would Ensure Cargo Pilots Are Sufficiently Rested Before Flight
Release Date: 7/25/2019 11:33:00 AM
WASHINGTON, D.C. – The pilots of the Air Line Pilots Association, Int'l (ALPA), The Coalition of Airline Pilots Associations (CAPA), including the Independent Pilots Association (IPA), and the International Brotherhood of Teamsters Local 1224 today announced renewed efforts to achieve one level of safety for all-cargo pilots and issued collective support for legislation that would close this dangerous loophole and ensure that all pilots are flying under the same standards. The Safe Skies Act, introduced by Senators Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), Maria Cantwell (D-WA), Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), Ed Markey (D-MA), and Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), would apply the same flight, duty, and rest rules to cargo flights as commercial airlines to prevent dangers posed by fatigued pilots.
While many of the same regulations are used for both commercial passenger and cargo airlines, lesser requirements are allowed on all-cargo operations in several crucial areas, which results in unnecessary safety risks. One example of this safety double standard between cargo and passenger operations is pilot flight, duty, and rest regulations. While updated science-based flight- and duty-time regulations for passenger operations were issued in 2011 and implemented in 2014, those rules apply only to pilots at passenger airlines and do not include all-cargo pilots. The Federal Aviation Administration's original rule included all pilots—passenger and cargo operations—but the cargo sector was carved out by the Office of Management and Budget due to a flawed cost-benefit methodology.
"For far too long, pilots at all-cargo operations have been subjected to substandard safety and security regulations. By joining forces, we will speak with one voice and tell Washington and aviation regulators that it's time to close the gap and bring one level of safety to all pilots," said Capt. Joe DePete, ALPA president. "Based on statistics, if the accident rate of all-cargo operations were applied to passenger operations, there would be an aircraft accident every two weeks. And that is no longer acceptable."
"Pilots flying for UPS, FedEx, and Amazon operate in the same crowded skies as those flying for Delta, United, and American Airlines," said IPA President Robert Travis. “Now is time for Congress to put an end to the special status carved out by the cargo airline industry allowing them to fill the nation's skies with large jets operated by pilots not subject to the same national, science-based fatigue rules as those flying passengers. Creating one level of aviation safety for both passenger and cargo is critical to ensuring safety for all," Travis added.
"Fatigue has the same debilitating effects on pilots whether they fly cargo or passenger aircraft – research has proven it and the Federal Aviation Administration knows this too," said Capt. Daniel C. Wells, APA Teamster Local 1224 President and Atlas Air pilot. "We at CAPA and the Teamsters will continue to work alongside ALPA and Capt. DePete to see that airlines – just because they fly cargo – cannot compromise on safety and security. Congress and the American public should demand nothing less."
"Allowing some operators to operate outside of this much-needed safety net is not grounded in modern fatigue science as mandated by Congress in 2010. Logical regulatory reform must take precedence over special interests within the air cargo industry," stated CAPA President Captain Larry Rooney. "We look forward to working with our fellow union brothers and sisters to provide a common sense solution to this glaring safety loophole," he added.
In addition to urging lawmakers to enact cargo pilot fatigue legislation, the nearly 100,000 pilots represented above will work jointly towards making significant improvements in flight deck security, ramp security, and the federal standards related to the protection of cargo pilots' health and well-being.
Other examples of safety gaps that all-cargo operations face:
- Many all-cargo aircraft lack intrusion-resistant cockpit doors.
- Animal handlers carrying large needles and tranquilizers lack proper security screening.
- Aircraft Rescue and Fire Fighting is not required at many airports during cargo aircraft operations.
- Some ramp areas used by cargo aircraft are not properly designated security identification display areas.
Air Line Pilots Association, Int’l—media@alpa.org
Independent Pilots Association—brian.gaudet@gmail.com
APA Teamsters Local 1224 —ABledsoe@apa1224.org
CAPA — mdemarco@capapilots.org