April 22, 2012 - U.S. Representatives Chip Cravaack and Tim Bishop introduced H.R. 4350, the Safe Skies Act of 2012. Importantly, the bill would ensure that pilot rest requirements apply to all cargo air operations. 

Following the Colgan Air Flight 3407 crash on February 12, 2009, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) developed a rule to address pilot fatigue for passenger flights using extensive scientific study, hearings, and industry feedback.

The rule, which requires eight hours of rest between shifts, was finalized on January 4th, 2012. The rule is scheduled go into effect January 14, 2014, but exempts cargo pilots.

?As a former cargo pilot, I understand the importance of a single standard of safety for pilots who share the same airspace and runways with passenger aircraft.  I introduced the Safe Skies Act in order to apply the new, common sense standards for pilot rest to cargo pilots as well,? said Rep. Cravaack. 

?Airline pilots strongly commend Rep. Chip Cravaack (R-MN) and Rep. Tim Bishop (D-NY) for their leadership in introducing this bill. If passed, the legislation would direct the U.S. Department of Transportation to apply the Federal Aviation Administration?s flight- and duty-time regulations and minimum rest requirements to all-cargo airline operations in the same way that the science-based regulations currently apply to passenger operations,? said Air Line Pilots Association (ALPA) President Lee Moak. 

?Congressman Cravaack has shown real leadership today by introducing legislation to ensure that the FAA?s recently enacted flight duty and rest requirements for passenger airlines equally apply to all-cargo carriers,? said Independent Pilots Association President, Captain Robert Travis. ?The Cravaack-Bishop Safe Skies Act of 2012 will bring the FAA?s final rule back in line with Congress' original intent, one level of safety for U.S. aviation.?

Specifically, the bill directs the Secretary of Transportation to apply the rule relating to flight crew member duty and rest requirements to all-cargo operations in the same manner as they apply to passenger operations. At a conference held on Tuesday in Washington, D.C., the Air Line Pilots Association, Int?l (ALPA), brought the airline industry together to develop solutions to achieve one level of safety and security for all airline operations, regardless of whether the pilots are flying passengers or cargo. 

?When you consider that all-cargo flights fly in the same airspace and land at and take off from the same airports as flights that carry passengers, it?s inexcusable that these operations aren?t required to meet the same high safety and security standards,? said Capt. Lee Moak, ALPA?s president. ?We know what we need to do in our industry to bring all-cargo operations up to the same level of safety and security as passenger flights.? 

During the conference, ALPA?s leaders strongly commended Rep. Chip Cravaack (R-MN) and Rep. Tim Bishop (D-NY) for introducing the Safe Skies Act of 2012 (H.R. 4350). If passed, the legislation would direct the Department of Transportation to apply the Federal Aviation Administration?s flight- and duty-time regulations and minimum rest requirements to all-cargo operations in the same way that the science-based regulations currently apply to passenger operations.