FAA To Revisit Fatigue Rules For Cargo Pilots

As Congress considers a bill that would extend new Part 121 pilot rest rules to air cargo operations, the FAA has asked a federal court to put a pilot-union lawsuit on hold so the agency can re-examine its position. When the FAA issued the new regulations in December, it covered only passenger-carrying flights. But a bill introduced by Reps. Chip Cravaack (R-Minn.) and Tim Bishop (D-N.Y.) would broaden the fatigue regulations to include cargo pilots. The FAA initially suggested that cargo operators could voluntarily adopt the new flight, duty and rest regulations. But the Independent Pilots Association, the union for UPS pilots, sued to be included under the new rules.