UPS Pilots File Petitioner's Brief in IPA v. FAA; Challenging Cargo Exclusion from Rest Rule

WASHINGTON, April 25, 2012 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The Independent Pilots Association (UPS pilots) last night filed its petitioner's brief with the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit challenging the FAA's exclusion of cargo operations from new rules governing pilot duty and rest requirements.

The following statement is from the IPA's General Counsel William Trent:

"The FAA acted contrary to Congress' mandate when the Agency published new pilot duty and rest rules in December excluding a vast and growing segment of U.S. commercial aviation –cargo.  Congress specifically directed the FAA to address the problem of pilot fatigue by issuing new rules based on the best available science.

"The FAA initially agreed stating that the old rules 'are inadequate to guard against fatigue and present an unacceptable risk to the public.'  Yet the same Agency, under intense cargo industry pressure, abruptly made a 180 degree turn and left cargo pilots under the same set of flawed rules that the FAA and Congress found lacking.

"The UPS pilots challenge the FAA's decision to exclude cargo operations from the new safety rules for three primary reasons. First, the FAA's exclusion of cargo was based solely on a 'cost-benefit' analysis Congress never authorized the FAA to employ.

"Next, the FAA exceeded its authority by relying on a sketchy, imprecise 'cost-benefit' formula that failed to account for benefits even the FAA acknowledged would accrue by applying the new rules to all cargo operations and in failing to consider other obvious benefits.

"Finally, the FAA failed to provide the public with legally required notice and opportunity to comment both with respect to its intent to treat cargo differently than passenger operations, and with respect to its reliance on a flawed cost-benefit formula that was made public, for the first time, only after announcing the new rule excluding cargo.

"Importantly, however, the IPA does not seek to overturn the new rules as they relate to passenger operations, but only to have the Court order the FAA to reconsider the inclusion of cargo operations consistent with its mandate from Congress and laws requiring adequate notice and opportunity for public comment."

The Court has order that the FAA file its respondent's brief by May 24, 2012. To see the IPA petitioner's brief and other materials related to IPA v. FAA, Cargo Airlines Association, go to: ipapilot.org/ipavfaa.asp   

SOURCE Independent Pilots Association