Pilots attack EU flight time limits

Airline pilots have criticised EU plans to harmonise limits on flight times which they say are not stringent enough.

Their complaints follow a second reading of proposals on technical standards relating to aviation safety (EU OPS) in the European Parliament last week (5 July).

New rules on flight time limitation (FTL) are expected to be approved by EU ministers after the summer break. But, according to the European Cockpit Association (ECA), scientific evidence on safe limits for working time went unheeded.

"Our approach is that whatever science shows to be safe should be the basis for regulation. Passengers should be able to have confidence that flying is safe," says Philip von Schoppenthau, secretary-general of the ECA.

The Parliament voted to reduce the terms for scientific and medical re-evaluation of limits. But the association believes the new rules are insufficient to prevent fatigue, which accounts for 15-20% of fatal accidents caused by human error.

Austrian MEP Evelin Lichtenberger, shadow rapporteur on the issue, who has studied work psychology at PhD level, says: "Pilots do not have a rhythm. Fatigue is a cumulative

condition resulting from irregular hours and lack of sleep that can lead to lack of concentration."

Von Schoppenthau says he does not believe the proposed rules are sufficient to guarantee safe flying in Europe. "Our concern is that companies and national governments in countries where higher safety standards exist will take the rules as a reason to reduce levels to the legal minimum allowed under the new regulation. That is very worrying."

Airline pilots have criticised EU plans to harmonise limits on flight times which they say are not stringent enough.