Release #: 14.66
August 06, 2014
ALPA Honors Capt. Don Wykoff for Role in Developing New Flight Crew Rest Rules
Cincinnati pilot will receive ALPA’s Presidential Recognition Award
WASHINGTON— The Air Line Pilots Association, Int’l (ALPA) president Capt. Lee Moak will honor Delta Air Lines Capt. Don Wykoff for his tremendous leadership role in developing new flight- and duty-time rules for commercial aviation. Capt. Moak will present the prestigious award during ALPA’s 60th Air Safety Forum, taking place August 4–7 in Washington, D.C. The Air Safety Forum is a week-long discussion of current safety and security aviation issues, of which flight- and duty-time rules (Federal Aviation Regulations, Part 117) have long been an agenda topic.
“It is most fitting that during a week of intense focus on the top safety and security issues of our industry that we recognize Capt. Wykoff and his individual accomplishments in bettering the entire piloting profession,” Moak said. “Through various leadership roles with the Association and aviation industry groups, he has helped accomplish what others have been trying to do for more than 60 years—establishing new pilot rest rules that improve the safety of air travel worldwide.”
Capt. Wykoff’s efforts to bring key stakeholders to consensus updating an archaic flight regulation led to the Federal Aviation Administration issuing science-based Part 117 flight limitations regulations on Jan. 4, 2012. The agency implemented these regulations for passenger airlines two years later, replacing outdated rules that had been in effect prior to the introduction of jet aircraft to commercial aviation.
“For the first time in the United States, these rules address a pilot’s circadian rhythm, duty limits, and on-board rest facilities; they provide education for pilots to address fatigue mitigation and a clear path to implementing Fatigue Risk Management Systems,” said Moak. “They also set a standard for other aviation regulators to emulate worldwide, and ALPA intends to share these best practices with the global aviation community—including our Canadian members. We also will not rest until these rules apply to all commercial airline pilots, including those who fly cargo.”
Capt. Wykoff chairs ALPA’s Flight Time/Duty Time Committee (FTDT) and co-chaired the FAA Flight and Duty Time Limitations and Rest Requirements Aviation Rulemaking Committee (ARC). Under his leadership, the ARC developed recommendations for a modern, science-based set of flight, duty, and rest regulations, and ALPA adopted a new policy on flight-time and duty-time limits and minimum rest requirements.
The U.S. Congress has also recognized the value of the process and application of universal scientific principles. Lawmakers are developing legislation to ensure that the work of the ARC applies to all pilots. Regulators specifically designed Part 117 to cover all operations, without differentiating among international, domestic, or supplemental operations, and with no distinction between cargo and non-cargo operations. Cargo pilots are flying the same routes, in the same airspace, and use the same equipment as other pilots.
“Capt. Wykoff’s strategic approach to building group consensus required extraordinary focus, leadership, and dedication,” Moak continued. “With that approach, he was able to change the paradigm from prescriptive rules to the use of data-driven flight crew scheduling through Fatigue Risk Management Systems to address ‘pilot fatigue.’”
Founded in 1931, ALPA is the world’s largest pilot union, representing more than 51,000 pilots at 31 airlines in the United States and Canada. Visit the ALPA website at www.alpa.org or follow us on Twitter @WeAreALPA.
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CONTACT: ALPA Media, 703/481-4440 or Media@alpa.org
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