Airline pilots protest

Pilot

Demonstrations are to be held across Europe by airline pilots who say long flying hours are "putting lives at risk." There will be no demonstrations in the UK though, as industrial action by pilots is outlawed.

European air crew unions are arguing that the current rules that govern how long they can fly for are unsafe, with fatigue a factor in 15 percent of accidents. But the European Aviation Safety Agency says it is still considering a scientific report on the issue.

British pilots are expected to join demonstrations at major airports on the continent with colleagues from 35 other countries. It is currently unclear if this action will cause disruptions for travellers.

The rules are already in force in some EU countries, but are due to come into force in the UK in 2012.

Pilots and air crew have complained that their working conditions have deteriorated as the airline industry looks to cut costs.

The general secretary of Balpa, Jim McAuslan, said he feared that attempts by the EU to standardise working conditions by 2012 would put more pressure on pilots.

He said: "Only fatigue experts understand the impact on a body of flying through so many time zones, having consecutive early starts and late duties and all the other factors that make up a pilot's life".

The EU rules allow up to 14 hours flying during the day and 11 hours 45 minutes at night.

Three years ago, in a bid to standardise pilot flying hours, the European Parliament agreed rules on flight times. But pilots argued the rules would result in more fatigue, putting lives at risk.

The European Parliament instructed the European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) to send the rules to 13 safety experts and scientists, and they reported back earlier this year.

The report says the 14-hour flying time limit is 'excessive'. The EU also wants to limit night-time flying - defined as any flight that starts between 10pm and 4.59am - to 11 hours and 45 minutes.

The President of the European Cockpit Association, Captain Martin Chalk, warned that "unless the EU acts now on information it already has, that it commissioned and that was delivered to it a year ago - unless it acts on that, unfortunately the safety levels we currently enjoy would be damaged". He was speaking to BBC Radio Five Live on Monday.

A UK Department for Transport spokesman insisted that safety would not be compromised by the new rules.

He said, "The European Aviation Safety Agency is in the process of considering the responses to its consultation on a first draft of rules establishing flight and duty time limits. While these are unlikely to be finalised until some time in 2011, we are confident they will maintain the same high level of safety as the current rules. The safety of passengers and crew is our top priority and we will not allow this to be compromised."

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