Association of Flight Attendants-CWA

Washington, DC (March 16, 2016) — The Senate Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee today voted to include language promoted by the Association of Flight Attendants-CWA to address fatigue through a Fatigue Risk Management Plan (FRMP) for Flight Attendants.

The Senate rest language does not match the bipartisan language in the House AIRR Act that requires irreducible 10 hours minimum rest between duty periods for Flight Attendants. AFA continues to press forward to achieve 10 hours minimum rest equal to the pilots.

"Proper rest for Flight Attendants is about safety, health and equality. Fatigue threatens safety. We worked very hard to achieve this common sense regulation and thank Senator Blumenthal for his work on fatigue. We will continue to push through both chambers until Flight Attendant rest is equal to pilots and we have accomplished meaningful provisions to combat fatigue in aviation,” said AFA International President Sara Nelson.

Hundreds of Flight Attendants were on Capitol Hill today to “Rally for Rest.” They visited all 541 Congressional offices to advocate for these provisions.

AFA supported components achieved today during the Senate markup:

• FAA Fatigue Risk Management Plan

• Mechanical (non-chemical) Disinsection on Commercial Flights

• Human Trafficking Awareness Training

• Ban on Voice Communications in Flight

• No Knives on Planes

• FAA Review of Evacuation Certification Standards

Currently, Flight Attendant rest can include passenger deplaning, preflight preparation and passenger boarding is included within the rest period which means that the opportunity to actually sleep is closer to 4 or 5 hours before potentially working another 14 hour duty day. AFA’s “Fight for 10” also includes a Fatigue Risk Management Plan (FRMP) for reporting instances of fatigue to take steps to correct it. The FRMP also provides education for Flight Attendants to determine when they are fatigued and what steps can be taken to avoid it, in addition to proper rest.

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The Association of Flight Attendants is the world’s largest Flight Attendant union. Focused 100 percent on Flight Attendant issues, AFA has been the leader in advancing the Flight Attendant profession for 70 years. Serving as the voice for Flight Attendants in the workplace, in the aviation industry, in the media and on Capitol Hill, AFA has transformed the Flight Attendant profession by raising wages, benefits and working conditions. Nearly 60,000 Flight Attendants come together to form AFA, part of the 700,000-member strong Communications Workers of America (CWA), AFL-CIO. Visit us at www.afacwa.org.