Fatigued Pilot Protection Act

Bill Number

H.R. 7191

Origin Chamber

House

Congress

119th Congress, Session 2

Policy Area

Transportation and Public Works

Status

Introduced

Latest Action

2026-01-22: Referred to the Subcommittee on Aviation.

Last Updated

2026-06-03T08:09:01Z

AI-Generated Summary

Purpose

The "Fatigued Pilot Protection Act" (H.R. 7191) aims to enhance aviation safety by addressing pilot fatigue. It directs the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to update regulations ensuring that specific rules on flight time, duty periods, and required rest apply uniformly to all relevant personnel and operations in commercial air carrier services.

Key Provisions

• Regulatory Update Requirement: Within 180 days of the bill's enactment, the FAA Administrator must revise necessary regulations to apply the flight and duty limitations, as well as rest requirements outlined in Part 117 of Title 14 of the Code of Federal Regulations (CFR), to any flightcrew member (e.g., pilots) or certificate holder (e.g., airlines) conducting operations under Part 121 of the same title.
• Scope of Application: Part 117 rules cover limits on how long pilots can fly or work without rest to prevent fatigue-related errors. Part 121 governs operations for scheduled and unscheduled air carriers, such as domestic and international passenger flights.
• No Other Changes Specified: The bill focuses solely on this regulatory alignment and does not introduce new limits or penalties.

Significant Changes to Existing Law

• Clarification and Expansion of Applicability: Current regulations already apply Part 117 to many Part 121 operations, but the bill mandates updates to ensure these fatigue rules cover all flightcrew members and certificate holders under Part 121 without exceptions. This could close potential gaps in enforcement or interpretation, making the rules more comprehensive and consistent.

Potential Impacts

• On Government Agencies: The FAA will need to review and amend regulations promptly, potentially requiring additional administrative resources for implementation and oversight to monitor compliance.
• On Citizens: Passengers may benefit from reduced risk of fatigue-related aviation incidents, improving overall flight safety. However, airlines could face higher operational costs (e.g., scheduling more rest periods), which might indirectly affect ticket prices.
• On International Relations: Minimal direct impact, though U.S. airlines operating internationally must comply, potentially influencing global standards for pilot rest if adopted by other countries.

Main Stakeholders Affected

• Pilots and Flightcrew: Gain stronger protections against fatigue, potentially leading to better health and reduced error rates.
• Airlines and Certificate Holders: Must adjust operations to fully comply with Part 117, which could increase scheduling complexity and costs but enhance safety reputations.
• FAA: Responsible for enforcement, facing workload to update and monitor rules.
• Passengers and the Public: Indirectly benefit from safer flights, with broader implications for air travel reliability.

Notable Legal, Constitutional, or Political Implications

• Legal Implications: Strengthens FAA authority under the Federal Aviation Act by mandating specific regulatory updates, potentially reducing litigation over fatigue-related accidents by clarifying standards. No new enforcement mechanisms are added, so existing penalties for violations (e.g., fines) would apply.
• Constitutional Implications: None significant; the bill aligns with Congress's commerce clause powers to regulate interstate and international aviation safety.
• Political Implications: Bipartisan support (introduced by representatives from both parties) highlights a focus on aviation safety amid ongoing concerns about pilot working conditions. It could set a precedent for future fatigue-related reforms without major controversy, though airlines might lobby against added regulatory burdens.

This summary was generated by AI and may contain inaccuracies. Refer to the official source document for the authoritative text.

Sponsor

Rep. Scholten, Hillary J. [D-MI-3]

Cosponsors (1)

Rep. Bresnahan, Robert P. [R-PA-8]

Recent Actions

• 2026-01-22: Referred to the Subcommittee on Aviation.
• 2026-01-21: Referred to the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure.
• 2026-01-21: Introduced in House
• 2026-01-21: Introduced in House

Bill Versions

• Fatigued Pilot Protection Act — issued 2026-01-21 — PDF (2 pages)