Information contained in this publication is intended for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice or opinion, nor is it a substitute for the professional judgment of an attorney.
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has released its much-anticipated proposed regulations (pdf) governing rest rules for commercial airline pilots. Spurred by the February 2009 fatigue-related crash of Colgan Air 3407 in Buffalo, New York, these rules impose a number of new requirements on airlines to address flight operation and rest time. The rules are also in response to the recently-enacted Airline Safety and Federal Aviation Administration Extension Act of 2010, which directed the FAA to establish regulations to address pilot fatigue by August 1, 2011. In a statement, FAA Administrator Randy Babbitt said: “I know firsthand that fighting fatigue is a serious issue, and it is the joint responsibility of both the airline and the pilot,” adding, “After years of debate, the aviation community is moving forward to give pilots the tools they need to manage fatigue and fly safely.” Continue reading this entry at Littler’s Washington DC Employment Law Update.
Photo credit: Monika Wisniewska