Proposed FTL rules threat to U.S passengers says BALPA, IFALPA President says safety should not be negotiable
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25 July 2012 _ IFALPA Daily News
The British Airline Pilots Association (BALPA) has today issued a statement accusing the proposed European regulations on flight and duty times as making “flying from the U.S. to the U.K. much less safe”. It pointed out that flights “such as London to Los Angeles” which take over 11 hours, “will have the requirement for a third pilot lifted so that the two pilots, who will have no opportunity to rest, will have dangerous fatigue levels by the time they get to landing……U.K. regulations require that a third pilot is present. This is to ensure that adequate rest is taken to maintain concentration whilst at the controls and be alert and focused on landing”.
Jim McAuslan, BALPA’s General Secretary commented “These long flights such as Heathrow to Los Angeles carry three pilots for a very good reason. With such a long working day, and a locked cockpit door, it is essential that the two pilots at the controls of the aircraft are not fatigued. They must be fully alert when landing in LA.This is another example of how flawed the E.U. proposals are. They have been developed without incorporating the available science but also without common sense. The proposed E.U. rule would mean that thousands of American passengers travelling on European airlines would be put at risk because flights like this needs three pilots. The British Government so far doesn't seem to be listening but I wonder how American passengers will feel about these aircraft carrying their citizens and flying through their airspace? An American airline will have three pilots when flying to Los Angeles and a European airline will be able to fly with just two pilots. Which airline would you choose?”
Captain Don Wykoff, IFALPA President and chairman of the Flight/Duty Time Committee of the Air Line Pilots Association, Int’l said “We have just been through the process of duty time regulation development in the United States, and we know the commercial and political pressures that rule-makers are under. However, safety should not be a negotiation, and we urge the European Aviation Safety Agency to develop their regulations on scientific advice, not commercial forces.”
PS.Интересный ход Ассоциации британских пилотов против попытки ввести в Европе новые новые правила по регулированию полётного(рабочего) времени пилотов (FTL)!
