Capt. Brian Noyes (United), ALPA’s Flight Time/Duty Time Committee chair, leads the Association’s efforts to combat pilot fatigue.

Editor's note: This column showcases the efforts of a cross section of ALPA pilots who volunteer their time and talents to advocate for the union’s priorities and the cadre of knowledgeable and passionate staff specialists who support them.

In late 2018, Capt. Brian Noyes (United) became the chair of ALPA’s Flight Time/Duty Time Committee, which is composed of volunteers who give their time and expertise on issues ranging from FAR Part 117 education to promoting the role of science in fatigue-related policies in the U.S. and Canada.

Air Line Pilot sat down with Noyes to learn more about the pilot who leads the Association’s flight-time/duty-time efforts and how ALPA’s staff helps to achieve the committee’s goals.

Q1. How did you get into aviation/flying?

Capt. Brian Noyes: As a kid, I was always in awe of my uncle who was in the Air Force. Growing up, I would generally see him every year, whether it was a visit to his hometown or he would land in Colorado at Buckley Air Force Base. At the time, he flew F4 Phantoms, and I can still remember sitting in the cockpit of that aircraft and the excitement it gave me.

Later as a high school junior when I was considering colleges, I received a postcard from Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University highlighting its aeronautical engineering program, which interested me as I come from a family of engineers. But after turning over the postcard, I discovered the university offered a career path to actually flying airplanes versus designing them. I quickly had my parents book a discovery flight and learned that I loved flying. As I finished my junior year of high school, I started work toward my private pilot’s license and absorbed anything aviation!

During my senior year, I applied and got accepted to Embry-Riddle in Daytona Beach, Fla., majoring in aeronautical science. While there, I completed an internship with United Airlines and earned my flight engineer rating as part of the program. Upon graduating in 1992, I worked as a flight instructor for Embry-Riddle and for Flight Safety International and spent my spare time building flight hours with the goal of getting back to United. I achieved that early in 1995, starting as a flight engineer on the B-727. Since then, I’ve flown the A319/A330 and the B-737/-747/-757/-767/-777, and I’m excited for my latest flying adventure as a captain on the B-787.

Q2. How did you first become involved with ALPA work?

Noyes: As a new hire at United, many of the captains I flew with impressed upon me the importance of attending local ALPA council meetings when I was able to. I attended meetings on and off as my schedule allowed, but only as an observer at that time. Soon after the United bankruptcy in 2003, a few first officers with whom I routinely flew and who were actively involved in ALPA kept discussing with me the areas they thought I’d excel in at ALPA. As changes were occurring at the airline, I considered getting more involved in local union activities. After discussions with our local captain representative, I was placed on the Denver Local Executive Council Scheduling Committee. Shortly thereafter, I became the chair of the committee when the previous leader stepped down.

Scheduling was a good fit as I enjoyed looking at how pairings were created and then formed into lines of flying using preferential bidding. From the local level, I progressed to the Master Executive Council System Scheduling Committee with duties ranging from pairings to preferential bidding, fatigue review, FAR Part 117, and fatigue risk management systems applications. This exposure led to a position on ALPA’s Flight Time/Duty Time Committee, and I became chair of the committee in September 2018.

Q3. What are your roles and responsibilities as the committee chair?

Noyes: As chair of the committee, I’m the subject-matter expert (SME) for all things FAR Part 117 and for flight time/duty time. My committee is likewise made up of SMEs from around the industry who support the committee’s actions. I’m also working with ALPA’s Canada Board as Canadian pilots transition later this year to flight-time/duty-time regulations based on fatigue science.

An important aspect of my role is to promote science-based fatigue rules and educate groups about their benefits, facilitate discussions on the subject, and manage interpretations of the rules. Upholding ALPA’s mission of one level of safety is critical in this area for all passenger- and cargo-carrying pilots in the U.S. and Canada. As ALPA’s Flight Time/Duty Time chair, I’m the point of contact for ALPA pilot groups regarding flight- and duty-time issues. These matters are discussed, and research and investigative work go into finding solutions to issues such as regulations that may need clarification from the FAA.

Some of my responsibilities also include attending national and international industry conferences to advocate for the benefits of science-based fatigue regulations. I also foster the development of robust safety management systems and promote fatigue mitigations. My committee hosts an annual conference on fatigue management and FAR Part 117, which includes open discussions, to further education on the subject. This conference helps to uncover events occurring under FAR Part 117 and with operators throughout the industry. We’ll be hosting future seminars in Canada as Transport Canada’s new flight-time/duty-time rule takes effect later this year.

Q4. How do ALPA national and staff help you achieve your goals?

Noyes: The work of the committee wouldn’t be possible without the extraordinarily dedicated and tireless efforts of ALPA’s Legal Department. The lawyers, paralegals, and other staff members who assist the committee are invaluable. They have extensive technical knowledge that the committee relies on, especially when dealing with historical and legal references. These professionals also interact with the various entities within the Association, from the President’s Office to the Air Safety Organization, and outside of ALPA, including the International Federation of Air Line Pilots’ Associations and the International Civil Aviation Organization. In addition, staff from ALPA’s Strategic Member Development and Resources Department helps immensely in the preparation and logistics of meeting planning for the committee.

Q5. What advice would you give new pilots who want to get involved with ALPA?

Noyes: The first step in getting involved is to volunteer, and the most accessible place to do that is at the local level. Talk with your local representatives to see if they have any need in an area that you’re passionate about or that perhaps you have a background or specialized training in or simply an area that needs help. While the first step to volunteering can be intimidating, the overall reward for helping fellow pilots is priceless. Seeing the results of your actions as a volunteer and the satisfaction of pilots that our union is here to help is worth the time and effort put in. ALPA runs on the volunteerism and professionalism of our pilots and wouldn’t be as successful without it.