UK’s Transport Committee warns EU FTL proposals could compromise safety (английский парламентарий критикует проект новых европейских FTL)
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Wednesday, 30 May 2012 _ IFALPA Daily News
Транспортный комитет парламента Великобритании подверг критике проект новых общеевропейских правил по регулированию времеги работы (отдыха) пилотов
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“Proposed EU rules on the working hours and conditions for pilots and cabin crew must be improved or safety could be at risk,” says the UK’s Transport Committee, following today’s publication of their report into the European Aviation Safety Agency’s draft proposals on flight time limits (FTL).
The Committee, while recognising that “flight time limitations are complex regulations which form an overall package”, highlighted a number of issues.
During its investigation the Committee heard from pilot and crew representatives “about a culture of under-reporting and that it was often a ‘better option’ not to report fatigue. BALPA told us that pilots are ‘fearful’ of disciplinary action if they report fatigue, Unite stated that such reports are ‘discouraged’ and the European Cockpit Association (ECA) explained that fatigue is ‘significantly under-reported’ as a result”.
The Committee’s Chair, Louise Ellman MP, said “Currently, the UK implements stricter flight time regulations than some other European countries, but under the new rules proposed by the European Aviation Safety Agency, the UK would not be able to have its own regime.
Our inquiry looked closely at EASA's proposals to harmonise the rules that govern how many hours a pilot can fly and we concluded that they must be improved.
43 per cent of pilots have reported falling asleep involuntarily at some point whilst on duty under the UK’s current regulatory framework. This shows how fatigue is already an issue in aviation. Steps must be taken to address this. Current EU proposals risk making the situation worse, by lowering the UK’s current standards. A lowest common denominator approach to safety will not benefit passengers, airlines or crew”.
She added “The proposed 11 hour duty period at night for pilots flies in the face of scientific evidence. It should be reduced to a 10 hour maximum. We are also concerned at the possibility that a pilot could land a plane after 22 hours awake. The Civil Aviation Authority must do more to monitor pilot hours so that long duty periods are the exception not the rule”.
The Committee also expressed its concern about the culture of under-reporting of pilot fatigue, a situation which it felt must be tackled by the Authority.
