Should Cargo Carriers Be Exempt from Flight/Duty Changes?

After the Colgan Air accident in 2009 the FAA released new regulations regarding flight and duty requirements. These new regulations changed not only the requirements for student pilots (250 hours to 1500 hours) it also changed the requirements. According to an article put out by Sarina Huston, the new rule does not differentiate from domestic, international, and unscheduled flights. Instead these rules apply to all involved Pilots. And now pilots must now sign a document before a flight stating that they are fit for duty while before they did not (Houston 2017). Before reserve pilots had to be given a 24-hour rest during a 7-day week. While now reserve pilots must have a rest period of at least 10 hours (Houston 2017). I kind of agree with this change. While it probably meant rewriting a few schedules. It allows pilots to have better rest opportunities between flights. Allowing for better rested flight crews. The old rule required active pilots to have at least 9 hours (this could be reduced to 8). While the new rule changed that to 10 hours with the opportunity for 8 hours of uninterrupted sleep (Huston 2017). This is a welcome change in my opinion. This forced pilots and companies to set up better lodging for flight crews away from home. Instead of having them sleep or rest at the FBO. What is also required in the flight and duty requirements is the development of a Fatigue Risk Management plan. This plan according to (FAA part 117,119,121 flight crew member duty and rest requirements) states that this Fatigue Risk Management plan must have three parts, and address fatigue related education and training.

 From what I was able to find the flight and duty requirements for cargo carriers have not changed. While the FAA has allowed them to opt in if they wish. According to part 117 final rule most cargo carriers were not factored into this rule because of cost. To which I agree the cost to implement for cargo carriers was too much for most cargo operations. Cargo carriers also work on different schedules than passenger operations. I agree that cargo operations do not need to be apart of this regulation. The cost to these cargo operations would be to much for them to remain profitable. Although I do believe that there should be some changes to their flight and duty time, but it should be tailored to them specifically. Although I might be a tad bias in this. I play to fly cargo so as it affects to myself I would prefer to not have to stick as thoroughly to these new regulations. I am curious to see if they will change them in the future and if so what will they change.     

References

Houston, S. (2017, November 17). Learn About the FAA's Final Rule for Pilot Duty and Rest Requirements. Retrieved February 02, 2018, from https://www.thebalance.com/faa-final-rule-pilot-duty-and-rest-requirements-282927

F. (2012, January 4). Flightcrew member and duty requirements . Retrieved February 1, 2017, from https://www.faa.gov/about/office_org/headquarters_offices/agc/practice_areas/regulations/part117/Part117_General/media/Final%20Flight%20Duty%20Rule.pdf