Final Blog 

April  20, 2018

By - Kalan Foster 

Flight & Duty Regulations 

In my original blog, I sided with cargo air carriers. I said that cargo carriers are exempt from part 117 due to the catastrophic financial toll these rules and regulations can take on the aviation industry in general. These rules and regulations could cripple the cargo industry and the consequences could potentially bleed over into other industries, collapsing the market and reducing the amount resources available in the United States. I understand the backlash from both cargo operators and pilots. The pilots feel as though they deserve more rest because of the increased stress and difficulty of flying at night. The cargo operators don't want to adapt the new rules because it would cost the industry about 300 million dollars. If the new regulations were adopted cargo pilots would fly less and make less money (cargo rest/duty periods). 

I believe all of those things were true but I have decided to take it a step further and provide more information regarding how these changes are necessary for cargo pilots.

Cargo Pilots 

I have decided to side with the cargo pilots regarding the most recent changes to Part 117. The FAA and the NTSB have stated the most significant issue associated with early morning and overnight flights is pilot fatigue. Throughout history the FAA has avoided making changes to policies until major accidents occur, cargo pilots have decided to take a stand and fight for changes regarding policies that are flawed. Two years after the FAA decided they were not going to include cargo operators to Part 117 a UPS pilot clipped a tree crashing just before the runway (“UPS Boeing 757 cargo plane crash,” n.d. p.1). Pilot fatigue appeared to be one of the contributing factors in this crash and it led to the death of two cargo pilots. The NTSB analyzed the cockpit recorder and both pilots mentioned tiredness before the crash, UPS also did not provide the pilots with a weather briefing prior to departure. UPS also failed to perform a software update of the plane's Enhanced Ground Proximity Warning System, which tells pilots when they are flying too low to the ground.

 This accident could have been avoided if the FAA would have included cargo operators into Part 117, but they believe the cost of including cargo operators outweighs the lives involved with future accidents when they made that decision. It took the Independent Pilot Association (IPA) four years to sit in court to argue their case regarding pilot fatigue within the cargo industry and even after that fatal accident the FAA was silent on this issue (“UPS Pilots Make Oral Argument,” n.d. p.1). This issue is real, and hundreds of pilots fly in unsafe conditions every day and those circumstances need to change. The increased workload has also contributed to the pilot shortage, and the pilot shortage has taken a great toll on the industry in general. 

Pilot Shortage 

The increased cost of training caused the pilot shortage. New pilots can’t afford to invest thousands of dollars into flying in the beginning of their careers and as a result, the aviation industry is suffering. This change did more harm than good because its creating unsafe work environments for cargo pilots, the cargo industry is overworking its current pilots due to the shortage causing an increase in fatigue. The 1500-hour rule was created because airlines could not give their pilots the proper resting period which led to the shortage of pilots. Pilots find it difficult to consult with members of management regarding the rest and duty periods if a pilot is unsafe to fly there are consequences. 

Closing 

Pilots should feel comfortable to admit when they are tired, and they should be able to speak with members of management without the fear of losing their position. Operating an aircraft under unsafe conditions can lead to a pilot losing their certificate and I believe that is unfair considering the current state of the industry. Part 117 needs to be updated immediately to include cargo pilots to reduce the unnecessary amount of risk for cargo operators. If the FAA won’t include cargo operators into part 117 they have to reduce the 1500-hour rule allowing more growth within the industry.

References 

www.faa.gov/documentLibrary/media/Advisory_Circular/AC%20117-3.pdf.

“Cargo Rest/Duty Periods .” Flight Time/Duty Time for Air Cargo,

UPS Boeing 757 cargo plane crash last year resulted from pilot errors and fatigue. (2014, September 11). AirGuide Business. Retrieved from http://link.galegroup.com.ezproxy.emich.edu/apps/doc/A384022300/ITOF?u=lom_emichu&sid=ITOF&xid=dfcb7672

UPS pilots suing to join new U.S. fatigue policy. (2011, December 22). Retrieved from https://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-airlines-fatigue/ups-pilots-suing-to-join-new-u-s-fatigue-policy-idUSTRE7BL1BX20111222

March 31, 2018 

By - Kalan Foster 

Aviation Organizations 

There several aviation groups that are beneficial depending on the pilot's field of study. After the Colgan accident, the rest and duty regulations were changed but they didn't include cargo pilots. The FAA was challenged by The Independent Pilot Association (IPA) regarding the rulemaking decision in the U.S. Court of Appeals, the FAA asked the court to suspend the lawsuit to perform a cost-benefit analysis(“UPS Pilots Make Oral Argument,” n.d. p.1). The IPA never stopped fighting for the rights of cargo pilots, it took the Independent Pilot Association (IPA) four years to sit in court to argue their case regarding pilot fatigue within the cargo industry and even after that fatal accident the FAA was silent on this issue. The Black Pilots of America (BPA) have done a great job providing job opportunities to African American and provide information lower-income communities to young aspiring pilots. The BPA has also provided funding for workplace discrimination cases against African American Pilots.  is also a great group to belong to, they provide free seminars across the united states, they provide scholarships to college student and they also find ways to give back to the community. All of these values align with my professional and academic future, one day I would love to give back to the community through these organizations. In the future, I want to become a cargo pilot and I believe it important to be involved with groups like the IPA in the future to unite and stand together. 

Career Development Opportunities 

All of the organizations listed have multiple opportunities for growth within their respective communities. IPA hires pilots to provide research and data for lawyers to fight cases for cargo pilots. The BPA hires Pilots to perform discovery flight for different communities, they also have a teaching program for younger pilots ages 16-18. The Organization of Black Aerospace Professionals has partnered with a local flight school to branch off and help grow the industry in this way. 



References 

UPS Pilots Make Oral Argument Before the D.C. Circuit to Challenge Cargo Exclusion from Rest Rule. (n.d.).Travel & Leisure Close-Up.

Home. (n.d.). Retrieved from http://www.obap.org/