UPS cargo pilots ask court for same FAA rest rights as passenger pilots
2012 05 04
- Details
UPS PILOTS have petitioned the US Court of Appeals against the Federal Aviation Administration's (FAA) exemption for cargo pilots from new rules stipulating passenger pilot rest requirements.
The cargo pilots said the FAA decision was based on wrong "cost-benefit" analysis that treats cargo differently from passenger operations under the new rules.
The court has ordered the FAA to respond by May 24.
Independent Pilots Association (IPA) lawyer William Trent said he hoped the court would "order the FAA to reconsider the inclusion of cargo operation rules consistent with its mandate from Congress and laws requiring adequate notice and opportunity for public comment.
"The FAA acted contrary to Congress' mandate when the agency published new pilot duty and rest rules in December excluding a vast and growing segment of US commercial aviation - cargo," said Mr Trend.
"Congress specifically directed the FAA to address the problem of pilot fatigue by issuing new rules based on the best available science.
"The FAA initially agreed, stating that the old rules 'are inadequate to guard against fatigue and present an unacceptable risk to the public.' Yet the same agency, under intense cargo industry pressure, abruptly made a 180 degree turn and left cargo pilots under the same set of flawed rules that the FAA and Congress found lacking."
Source Shipping Gazette - Daily Shipping News
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