current rules with an opportunity for eight hours of interrupted sleep and at least 30 consecutive hours of time off per week. something else, regardless of how far they've commuted on their own, pilots will be required to state they are fit to fly, a statement that veteran pilot john cox welcomes. >> jet airplanes move very quickly. a successful pilot must always be ahead of the airplane. when you're fatigued, that's harder to do. >> reporter: the airline industry initially opposed an early draft of the rules but says it supports changes that are science based and will improve safety. it's the families of the buffalo crash victims getting the credit. beverly eckerd, a 9/11 widow died in the crash. her sister was in washington. >> i think our efforts really went a long way to pushing this through, not just for ourselves, but for everyone who flies and in the memory of all those people who died. >> that was nbc's tom costello