Fatigued Pilot Protection Act

119th Congress Introduced by Hillary Scholten

Extends Part 117 fatigue limits and rest requirements to Part 121 airline operations, with FAA updating regulations within 180 days.

Referred to the Subcommittee on Aviation.

Fatigued Pilot Protection Act (H.R.7191) – Summary

Purpose and intent

The bill aims to ensure that flight and duty limitations and rest requirements designed to prevent pilot fatigue are applied to all flightcrew members or certificate holders operating under Part 121 of Title 14 of the Code of Federal Regulations (CFR).

It directs the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to update regulations to extend Part 117 fatigue-related requirements to Part 121 operations.

Key provisions

Regulatory update deadline: The FAA must complete the necessary regulatory updates within 180 days after enactment.

Scope of applicability: The updated regulations must ensure that the flight and duty limitations and rest requirements described in Part 117 of 14 CFR apply to any flightcrew member or certificate holder conducting operations under Part 121. In other words, fatigue rules currently governing certain operations would explicitly cover Part 121 airline operations as well.

Who is affected

Flightcrew members and certificate holders engaged in Part 121 operations (which includes many domestic passenger and cargo airlines).

Air carriers and operators regulated under Part 121 will be obligated to comply with Part 117 fatigue standards (limits on flight time, duty periods, and required rest) for operations previously not covered under Part 117.

Procedural and timeline aspects

Introduction and referral: The bill was introduced January 21, 2026, by Rep. Scholten (with Rep. Resnahan as a co-sponsor) and referred to the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, then to the Subcommittee on Aviation.

Effective date for compliance: The FAA has a hard deadline of 180 days from enactment to implement the required regulatory updates.

Status as of draft: The bill has been introduced and referred to committees; no further legislative action is indicated in the provided text beyond initial referral.

Potential impact and considerations

Safety implications: By extending Part 117 fatigue protections to Part 121 operators, the bill seeks to reduce fatigue-related risks for a broader set of U.S. airline operations, potentially improving safety, alertness, and performance of flightcrew.

Regulatory burden: Airlines operating under Part 121 would need to review and adjust scheduling practices, training, and policy compliance to meet Part 117 standards.

Implementation challenges: The FAA will need to harmonize Part 117 fatigue rules with existing Part 121 operational rules, ensuring clear guidance, enforcement mechanisms, and modernization of any related systems or recordkeeping.

Notable details

Short title: Fatigued Pilot Protection Act.

No dollar figures or specific numerical fatigue metrics are included in the bill text provided; the focus is on applying Part 117 rules to Part 121 operations and directing the FAA to finalize the regulatory changes within 180 days.