IATA, ICAO, IFALPA Release Fatigue Risk Management Systems Implementation Guide

IATA, ICAO, and the International Federation of Airline Pilots’ Associations (IFALPA) have released a Fatigue Risk Management Systems (FRMS) Implementation Guide for commercial aircraft operators.

FRMS is a methodology based on scientific principles that will allow operators to manage the fatigue-related risks particular to their types of operations and context. It provides a viable alternative to traditional prescriptive flight and duty time rules.

Advancements in science have brought a better understanding of the correlation between fatigue and performance as well as fatigue mitigation methods. The FRMS Implementation Guide applies these advancements to enhance flight safety at a time when fatigue is increasingly cited as a contributing factor in accidents.

IATA, ICAO and IFALPA collaborated on developing an FRMS Implementation Guide for Operators, in line with specific guidance for regulators. The guide includes valuable insight into the methodology and framework for implementing an effective fatigue risk management program and an explanation of the science supporting it.

“FRMS enhances safety scientifically and in consideration of today’s operational realities and accumulated experience. This Implementation Guide now puts regulators, pilots and the industry on the same page when it comes to ensuring safe operations with optimum crew performance,” said Guenther Matschnigg, IATA’s Senior Vice President, Safety, Operations and Infrastructure.

In support of this cooperation and to further facilitate understanding and implementation, IATA, ICAO and IFALPA are joining forces to deliver FRMS information workshops around the globe to outline the context for the FRMS requirements from the perspective of each of the stakeholders – regulator, operator and pilot.

Accordingly, the Council of ICAO recently adopted international standards for FRMS, to ensure both consistent implementation of FRMS by operators and oversight by regulators.

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