FRMT Update – November 2024
The Delta MEC’s FRMT (Fatigue Risk Management Team) scours the bid packets every month to identify rotations that pose fatigue threats. We publish rotations that we find problematic as a way of providing additional tools for pilots to mitigate the threat of fatigue in the operation.
When analyzing rotations, we look at the time of day an operation is planned and the amount of rest that is provided before operating. Circadian swaps are the most common characteristic of what we consider a fatiguing rotation. Other reasons we add rotations to our list are:
- Long FDPs combined with short layovers
- Long sits within long FDPs
- Rotations without a long enough layover to get a meal and sleep
- Too many legs
- Unaugmented flying that should be augmented
As a reminder, FRMT does not concern itself with the “desirability” of a given rotation, as pilots have a wide array of preferences. Safety is our only consideration. For example, some Fitness for Duty Reports (FFDRs) cite tossing and turning as a cause of their fatigue during their long layover. While on paper, a 24-hour layover may seem ideal, this length of layover almost always involves a circadian swap. Pilots often “blame themselves” for not being able to sleep. More than likely, however, the reason they are having a difficult time sleeping is because they woke up from their late arrival a mere 12 hours earlier. To help mitigate the threat of fatigue during these long layovers, it is important for pilots to manage their sleep appropriately and plan for two sleep opportunities.
Because our review is a manual process, some rotations will be missed. We encourage any feedback to be addressed to DALFRMT@alpa.org.
We want to be clear that if you are awarded or assigned one of these rotations, it is not automatic grounds for a fatigue call. Calling in fatigued is always an individual pilot’s decision based on your assessed fitness for duty prior to each flight. Our intent in identifying these rotations is for pilots to be aware of fatigue concerns these rotations might present. This is not an all-encompassing list. You may encounter fatigue on any rotation with delays, reroutes, sleep disruptions, or other issues.
Here are the rotations highlighted by FRMT from the November bid packets:
As a reminder, you are legally obligated to ensure your fitness for duty before every flight.
Please check back on or about November 18 for rotations in the December bid packets as we continue this series.
This is a product of the Delta MEC Fatigue Risk Management Team
Air Line Pilots Association, International
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