Rules aimed at tired airline pilots

Rules aimed at tired airline pilots

WASHINGTON

The Federal Aviation Administration is imposing new rules aimed at preventing airline pilots from flying while dangerously fatigued, a move safety advocates have been urging for more than two decades.

The rules issued Wednesday would limit the number of hours a pilot can be scheduled on duty to between nine and 14, depending on the time of day.

But cargo carriers, which do much of their flying overnight when people naturally crave sleep, are exempted. The FAA said forcing cargo carriers to reduce the number of hours their pilots can fly would be too costly even when weighed against the safety benefits.

The FAA estimated the cost to industry of the new rules at $297 million over 10 years. Airlines get two years to put the rules in place.

Activists: Syrian troops killed 100

BEIRUT

As government troops advanced on a village in northwestern Syria, activists say the terrified residents fled into a valley for fear of being arrested or worse. What happened next, one of the activists said, was “an organized massacre.”

The troops surrounded the valley and unleashed a barrage of rockets, tank shells, bombs and gunfire in an hours-long assault, according to two human rights groups and a witness, killing more than 100 people and leaving no survivors in one of the bloodiest days of a crackdown by President Bashar Assad against a nine-month popular uprising.

The White House said it was “deeply disturbed” by Tuesday’s attack, France called it a “murderous spiral,” and the Arab League reminded the Assad regime of its responsibilities to protect its civilians.

Arizona officers turn in credentials

PHOENIX

Dozens of Sheriff Joe Arpaio’s jail officers lined up at a news conference in Phoenix Wednesday to ceremoniously hand in their federal credentials a week after they were stripped of the ability to verify the immigration status of inmates.

Arpaio spoke at the same news conference, saying he’s going to hold the federal government to its promise to send 50 federal agents to do such screening in his jail. But he predicted there will be illegal immigrants in jail who won’t be deported and will be put back on streets.

“I want to see how many agents are going to be coming to our jail,” the sheriff said. “I want to see how long it will take for 50 agents from across the country to work in our jails.”

Women share 1st kiss since repeal

VIRGINIA BEACH, Va.

A Navy tradition caught up with the repeal of the U.S. military’s “don’t ask, don’t tell” rule on Wednesday when two women sailors became the first to share the coveted “first kiss” on the pier after one of them returned from 80 days at sea.

Petty Officer 2nd Class Marissa Gaeta of Placerville, Calif., descended from the USS Oak Hill amphibious landing ship and shared a quick kiss in the rain with her partner, Petty Officer 3rd Class Citlalic Snell of Los Angeles. Gaeta, 23, wore her Navy dress uniform while Snell, 22, wore a black leather jacket, scarf and blue jeans. The crowd screamed and waved flags around them.

“It’s something new, that’s for sure,” Gaeta told reporters after the kiss.

“It’s nice to be able to be myself. It’s been a long time coming.”

Associated Press