Business aviation organizations, including NBAA and NATA, are surveying Part 135 organizations to get a more complete picture of the evolving community as work gets underway for a potential rewrite of pilot rest and duty requirements. At the behest of Congress, the FAA last summer formally established a Part 135 Pilot Rest and Duty Rules Aviation Rulemaking Committee (ARC) to review current regulations and make recommendations on any necessary changes.

Congress stipulated that the ARC comprises representatives of industry, labor (both from Part 135 and 91K), and safety experts, along with FAA officials. The ARC kicked off in September and held its first couple of meetings, with the next scheduled in January. Recommendations from the ARC are due within 16 months of the first meeting, but the charter of the group is to last 24 months.

“The ARC aims to incorporate the latest fatigue science into recommendations, but NATA also wants to ensure we understand how our recommendations may affect the current state of 135 operations,” NATA, which is participating in the ARC, told members this week in releasing the survey.

Open through January 20, the survey is designed to provide insight on the type, size, and complexity of operations. NATA noted that some operators might receive multiple surveys but that it should be filled out only once.