AFA-CWA Wins Action on Fatigue Study

The Senate Transportation Appropriations Committee has authorized $500,000 for a research study on the effects of flight attendant fatigue, based on a report by the Federal Aviation Administration. The two-year follow-up study will be conducted by the FAA's Civil Aerospace Medical Institute (CAMI), with the results to be submitted to Congress by December 31, 2008.

Last month, AFA-CWA flight attendants and supporters held a "sleep-in" outside FAA headquarters, calling on the agency to release its overdue report on flight attendant fatigue.

"Flight attendant fatigue is a chronic problem in the aviation industry and it continues to jeopardize our ability to fulfill important safety and security roles," said AFA-CWA President Pat Friend. "We are pleased that steps are being taken to move forward, end flight attendant fatigue and finally enact meaningful regulations that will address this problem."

The results of the initial FAA report confirmed that flight attendants are frequently "experiencing issues consistent with fatigue and tiredness" and that "fatigue appears to be a salient issue warranting further evaluation."

"Based on the incident reports, flight attendant comments, and the outcomes from the sampling of actual duty and rest time, it appears that the opportunities for adequate rest for flight attendants need to be further evaluated," the FAA said.

The initial study also notes that regulations created by the FAA governing flight attendant duty and rest requirements are "minimal standards." To truly address fatigue, the regulations must be combined with "sound and realistic operational practices," as well as personal strategies, it said.