NTSB Puts Crew Fatigue on its Most Wanted List

Citing four recent accidents and incidents the NTSB has issued a recommendation that the FAA address fatigue issues. NTSB recommendations are not binding on the FAA and are more frequently ignored than adopted. Nonetheless this is an important milestone for the many flight deck crew members and their representatives who have been fighting the propensity of air carriers to impose fatigue inducing schedules. Flight deck crew members have known for years that these practices significantly degrade the margins of safety necessary to a safe air transportation system. Few crew members will risk their careers by refusing to fly fatigued. Most pilots are aware of a prevailing management culture which holds that if it is legal then a professional pilot should be able to do it. If a pilot refuses an assignment then management concludes the pilot is at fault.