FLIGHT ATTENDANT FATIGUE

Some air carriers are taking advantage of a “reduced rest” provision in the Federal Aviation Administration’s Flight Attendant Duty Time and Rest Regulations which allows the minimum rest of nine hours to be reduced to eight. The exception has become the rule and flight attendants are so exhausted they have informed their union representatives that they have forgotten to arm their doors and have fallen asleep on their jumpseats. Flight attendant, as well as passenger safety is being jeopardized.

Flight Attendant Duty Time and Rest Rule:
According to the Federal Air Regulations (FAR’s), flight attendants must have a minimum rest period of at least nine hours following any duty period of less than 14 hours. The nine-hour period can be reduced to as little as eight hours, if the employer schedules a 10-hour rest period following the next duty period.

“Rest Period” Defined:
“Rest period” is misleading because much more must be done during this period than sleep. The “rest period” begins fifteen minutes after an aircraft pulls into the gate and continues until one hour prior to their next departure. It includes travel to the hotel, checking-in, possibly eating a meal, getting prepared for bed, getting dressed for work the next morning, travel back to the airport and last, but certainly not least, sleep time.

“Reduced Rest” On A Routine Basis Is Unacceptable.
Multiple studies have shown that reaction time and performance diminishes with extreme fatigue – an unacceptable situation for safety-sensitive employees. Flight attendants are on board to assist in case an aircraft emergency evacuation is necessary. In addition, they are inflight first responders who are trained to handle inflight fires, medical emergencies including CPR, emergency births and security problems. An inability to function jeopardizes the traveling public and other crewmembers.

The Exception Has Become The Rule.
The industry practice has been to schedule as little as nine hours of rest. Reduced rest is meant to accommodate scheduling when carriers encounter delays out of the carriers’ control such as bad weather or air traffic control delays, but FAA regulations are not so specific. The FAA has given carriers the go-ahead to schedule layovers for less than 9 hours.

Flight Attendants Dare Not Call In Fatigued.
While pilot regulations allow them to notify their carrier that they are too fatigued to fly, flight attendant rules are less clear. A flight attendant’s option is to call in sick and as few as three absences due to illness in one year sets a flight attendant on the path for termination at some carriers.


For more information, please contact: Shane Larson, Association of Flight Attendants-CWA  (AFA), 202-712-9738