Pilots Allege American’s Crew rest Stance “Unconscionable”

The Allied Pilots Association (APA) blasted American Airlines' latest lawsuit claiming the new Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) rules to more strictly regulate crew rest on ultra-long haul flights are “unconscionable” .

American joined with six other U.S. carriers to oppose the new regulations, regulations which—among other things--would mandate airlines install on-board crew rest areas on ultra-long range flights.

“The National Transportation Safety Board (www.ntsb.gov) has identified as one of its ‘most wanted transportation safety improvements’ the reduction of aviation accidents and incidents caused by human fatigue,” says APA President Captain Lloyd Hill. The union chief says, “We cannot fathom their rationale” for opposing the new rules.

As reported yesterday in Cheapflights' Travel and Flight News, the seven airlines’ rationale for filing suit against FAA is that new regulations would impose another financial burden on them. The carriers also contend the FAA didn’t allow input from them regarding the new rules.

In their suit, the carriers contend, “FAA has neither demonstrated how the rule will advance safety, considered the potential that the rule may actually diminish safety, nor justified the significant costs of he rule against any purported benefit.”

In his criticism of American Airlines, Captain Hill says, “Numerous scientific studies have compared the fatigue induced by periods of prolonged wakefulness to the debilitating effects of intoxication. In the exacting world of commercial aviation, we must do all we can to combat the dangers posed by fatigue.”

©Cheapflights Ltd Jerry Chandler