hold on there's just too much going on in Congress lmao...
Extends airline pilot rest rules to cargo pilots.
Reps. Carbajal (D-CA), Fitzpatrick (R-PA), Garamendi (D-CA), Bacon (R-NE).
Introduced in the House, awaiting committee review.
This bill, the "Safe Skies Act of 2026," directs the Department of Transportation to require flight crews on all-cargo aircraft to follow the same duty and rest rules as passenger airline pilots. This change would take effect within 30 days of the bill becoming law, without the usual public comment period. The bill was introduced by a bipartisan group of representatives and referred to the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee for consideration.
Introduced Feb 12, 2026
This bill has been introduced in the U.S. House of Representatives and referred to the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure. For it to become law, it must first be approved by this committee, then pass a vote in the full House. After that, it would move to the Senate for their approval and finally to the President to be signed into law.
If this bill passes, flight crews operating all-cargo planes would be subject to the same strict duty and rest requirements currently applied to passenger airline pilots. This could mean cargo airlines might need to adjust their flight schedules and staffing to ensure pilots get sufficient rest. While potentially increasing safety, these operational changes could also influence the speed or cost of air cargo shipments.
Supporters Say
Supporters would argue it improves safety for cargo pilots and reduces fatigue-related risks.
Critics Say
Critics might argue it imposes unnecessary burdens or costs on cargo airlines.
Supporters would argue that applying passenger pilot rest rules to cargo pilots is a common-sense measure to enhance aviation safety across the board, reducing the risk of accidents caused by fatigued crews. Critics might contend that cargo operations differ significantly from passenger flights, and existing rules are adequate, or that new rules could lead to increased operational costs and delays for critical supply chains.