NTSB -- NTSB RECOMMENDS FAA ADDRESS FATIGUE MANAGEMENT SYSTEMS IN AVIATION

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NTSB PRESS RELEASE

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National Transportation Safety Board

Washington, DC 20594

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: June 10, 2008

SB-08-25

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NTSB RECOMMENDS FAA ADDRESS FATIGUE MANAGEMENT SYSTEMS IN

AVIATION

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Washington, DC -- The National Transportation Safety Board

today made two recommendations to the Federal Aviation

Administration (FAA) to address human fatigue within airline

operations. The Board recommended that the FAA develop

guidance, based on empirical and scientific evidence, for

operators to establish fatigue management systems, including

information about the content and implementation of these

systems.

The Board also made a recommendation to develop and use

methodology that will continually assess the effectiveness

of fatigue management systems implemented by operators,

including their ability to improve sleep and alertness,

mitigate performance errors, and prevent incidents and

accidents.

"The Safety Board is extremely concerned about the risk and

the unnecessary danger that is caused by fatigue in

aviation," said NTSB Chairman Mark V. Rosenker. "We have

seen too many accidents and incidents where human fatigue is

a cause or contributing factor."

The Board's recommendations letter cites three accidents and

an incident highlighting the danger of human fatigue within

airline operations:

On October 19, 2004, Kirksville, Missouri, Corporate

Airlines flight 5966 struck several trees on its final

approach and crashed short of the airport. Both

pilots and 11 passengers were killed. Two passengers

received serious injuries.

On February 18, 2007, Delta Connection flight 6488,

operated by Shuttle America, Inc., overran the end of

the runway as it was landing at Cleveland-Hopkins

International Airport. All 72 passengers and a crew of

four deplaned without serious injury.

On April 12, 2007, Pinnacle Airlines flight 4712 ran

off the runway after landing at Cherry Capital

Airport, Traverse City, Michigan. None of the 49

passengers or crew of three were injured.

On February 13, 2008, Go! flight 1002, operated by

Mesa Airlines, flew past its destination airport,

General Lyman Field, Hilo, Hawaii. Air traffic

control repeatedly attempted to contact the crew for

over 18 minutes, as it flew over Maui, crossed the big

island of Hawaii and headed southeast over the Pacific

Ocean. The airplane traveled 26 nautical miles beyond

its intended destination airport before the flight

crew responded. There were no injuries.

"It is imperative that the FAA take action to reduce human

fatigue in airline operations," Rosenker said. "Addressing

this safety related measure is long overdue. We must and

can correct this serious concern."

The Safety Board's recommendation letter, including the

recommendations, will be available on the website,

www.ntsb.gov, under Board Meetings.

Media Contact: Terry N. Williams, 202-314-6100

williat@xxxxxxxx

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