Fatigued Pilot Protection Act

Legislative Summary: HR 7191 - Fatigued Pilot Protection Act

Overview

The Fatigued Pilot Protection Act (HR 7191) is a targeted piece of legislation designed to enhance aviation safety by standardizing flight and duty time limitations and rest requirements for flightcrew members. The primary intent of the bill is to reduce pilot fatigue—a significant risk factor in aviation accidents—by ensuring rigorous safety standards are applied across all operations under specific federal aviation regulations.

Key Provisions

The bill mandates a specific regulatory update by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA):

• Regulatory Alignment: The FAA Administrator is required to update existing regulations to ensure that the flight and duty limitations and rest requirements outlined in 14 CFR Part 117 are applied to all flightcrew members and certificate holders operating under 14 CFR Part 121.
• Closing Regulatory Gaps: By linking Part 121 operations (which generally cover scheduled air carriers) strictly to the rest requirements of Part 117, the bill seeks to eliminate inconsistencies in how duty hours and mandatory rest periods are calculated and enforced.

Who is Affected?

• Flightcrew Members: Pilots operating under Part 121 certifications will be subject to standardized rest and duty limits, potentially increasing mandatory off-duty time.
• Air Carriers (Certificate Holders): Commercial airlines operating under Part 121 will need to adjust their scheduling and staffing models to comply with the mandated rest requirements.
• FAA: The Federal Aviation Administration is tasked with the administrative burden of updating and implementing these regulations.

Timeline and Procedural Status

• Implementation Deadline: The FAA must complete the necessary regulatory updates not later than 180 days after the Act is enacted.
• Current Status: As of January 21, 2026, the bill has been introduced in the House and referred to the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure for further review.

Potential Impact

If passed, this legislation is expected to improve aviation safety by guaranteeing that pilots have adequate rest before operating an aircraft, regardless of the specific nuances of their Part 121 operation. While this may increase operational costs for airlines due to the need for more crew scheduling flexibility or additional staffing, the anticipated outcome is a reduction in fatigue-related incidents in commercial aviation.