Gulf airlines are unlikely to see any drawbacks from new US regulations overhauling the minimum number of hours' rest pilots must receive before flights. US transportation secretary Ray LaHood and Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) acting administrator Michael Huerta recently announced sweeping changes to the amount of rest pilots must be given before entering the cockpit of a commercial passenger airline, an Arabian Business report said. “Every pilot has a personal responsibility to arrive at work fit for duty. This new rule gives pilots enough time to get the rest they really need to safely get passengers to their destinations,” said Huerta. However, Saj Ahmad, chief analyst at StrategicAero Research, said Gulf carriers were unlikely to be negatively impacted by the stipulations. “From my understanding, this is primarily aimed at US pilots. There doesn't seem to be any mention of adverse affects on non US pilots since their flight origins would be outside the USA and subject to their own national guidelines,” he said. Under new rules, the FAA limits flight time - when the plane is moving under its own power before, during or after flight - to eight or nine hours depending on the start time of the pilot's entire flight duty period. However, Saj Ahmad, chief analyst at StrategicAero Research, said Gulf carriers were unlikely to be negatively impacted by the stipulations.
