Pilots' unions oppose new FAA fatigue rules

Allied Pilots Association and the Coalition of Airline Pilots Associations announced their opposition to new Federal Aviation Administration proposals to reduce on-the-job fatigue (USA Today, 17-Sep-2010). The proposed rules are designed to lower the maximum number of hours a pilot can work each day from 16 to 13, including paperwork and waiting for flights. Guaranteed rest periods would be increased. The unions argue that the FAA proposal would allow pilots to fly up to two hours extra, to a maximum of 10 hours, actually increasing fatigue.