Source: https://www.ntsb.gov/investigations/AccidentReports/_layouts/ntsb.recsearch/Recommendation.aspx?Rec=A-08-020
Timestamp: 2019-10-22 13:31:05
Document Index: 311335256

Matched Legal Cases: ['art 121', 'art 91', 'art 121', 'art 135', 'art 135', 'art 91', 'art 135', 'art 91', 'art 135', 'art 91', 'art 135', 'art 91']

Safety Recommendation A-08-020
Recommendation: TO THE FEDERAL AVIATION ADMINISTRATION: Once the fatigue policy described in Safety Recommendation A-08-19 has been developed, require 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 121, 135, and Part 91 subpart K operators to adopt this policy and provide, in writing, details of the policy to their flight crewmembers, including the administrative implications of fatigue calls.
Response: Among the many significant improvements in the final rule issued January 4, 2012, were provisions completing the actions specified in Safety Recommendations A-08-19 and -20, but these provisions applied only to Part 121 operators. Although the preamble to the final rule indicated that the FAA was considering similar rulemaking for Part 135 operators, we note that the agency has now decided not to pursue such rulemaking for either Part 135 or Part 91, Subpart K, operators. The FAA has issued letters of interpretation of current regulations for Part 135 operators stating that both a flightcrew member and the certificate holder are in violation of the regulations if a crewmember flies when his or her lack of rest would endanger others. These regulations also apply to Part 91, Subpart K operations. As a result, the FAA believes that these interpretations of existing regulations constitute an alternative approach for addressing the recommendations. Although we agree for the present with that position, we will evaluate whether this alternative has proven effective when we investigate future accidents involving either Part 135 or Part 91, Subpart K, flights in which flightcrew fatigue is an issue. If we find that the alternative has not proven effective, we will issue new recommendations addressing these issues for Part 135 and Part 91, Subpart K, operators at that time. Accordingly, Safety Recommendations A-08-19 and -20 are classified CLOSED—ACCEPTABLE ALTERNATE ACTION.