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EU aviation plan sparks 'pilot fatigue' warning | EU aviation plan sparks 'pilot fatigue' warning |
(about 2 hours later) | |
Plans to change how pilots' working hours are regulated would put safety at risk, a pilots' union has warned. | Plans to change how pilots' working hours are regulated would put safety at risk, a pilots' union has warned. |
The European Union says it wants to tighten and standardise the varying time limits for flying, and MEPs are due to vote on new rules later. | The European Union says it wants to tighten and standardise the varying time limits for flying, and MEPs are due to vote on new rules later. |
The chairman of the European Parliament's transport committee said the rules would maintain or improve safety across the EU. | |
But pilots' union Balpa warned it would increase fatigue among UK aircrew. | |
Air travel regulator the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) said the changes would improve safety for UK passengers flying on some European airlines. | |
'Expert advice' | |
The British Airline Pilots Association claimed the new rules would allow pilots to: | |
General secretary Jim McAuslan said the proposals went "against expert advice" and were "unscientific". | General secretary Jim McAuslan said the proposals went "against expert advice" and were "unscientific". |
The union wants the European Parliament to back a motion requiring the European Commission to have the proposals scrutinised by scientific and medical experts. | The union wants the European Parliament to back a motion requiring the European Commission to have the proposals scrutinised by scientific and medical experts. |
Last week, a survey of 500 commercial pilots by the union suggested more than half had fallen asleep while in charge of an aircraft. | |
One in three said they had woken up to find their co-pilot sleeping as well. | |
'False and irresponsible' | 'False and irresponsible' |
If MEPs vote in favour, the changes would be introduced in 2015. | |
The European Commission said the legislation would ensure airlines operated the same flying rules across Europe, and flight time limits would be lowered. | The European Commission said the legislation would ensure airlines operated the same flying rules across Europe, and flight time limits would be lowered. |
"Any impression that is being given that the proposals would weaken those rules is false and irresponsible," a commission spokesman said. | "Any impression that is being given that the proposals would weaken those rules is false and irresponsible," a commission spokesman said. |
The union claimed combined flight and standby time could lead to pilots being awake for 22 hours before landing. | The union claimed combined flight and standby time could lead to pilots being awake for 22 hours before landing. |
But the CAA said that it would not support the move if it believed this was the case. | But the CAA said that it would not support the move if it believed this was the case. |
"It is important to understand this scenario will almost never happen," a spokesman said. | "It is important to understand this scenario will almost never happen," a spokesman said. |
The CAA added the changes would improve safety for some passengers and help it "oversee fatigue risk management". | The CAA added the changes would improve safety for some passengers and help it "oversee fatigue risk management". |
"We think the new European flight time limitation regulations maintain the UK's current high safety levels, and will actually increase safety for UK passengers travelling on some other European airlines," a spokesman said. | "We think the new European flight time limitation regulations maintain the UK's current high safety levels, and will actually increase safety for UK passengers travelling on some other European airlines," a spokesman said. |
"This view is informed by expert opinion, based on scientific principles, operational knowledge, regulatory oversight information and research." | "This view is informed by expert opinion, based on scientific principles, operational knowledge, regulatory oversight information and research." |
'Isolated incident' | 'Isolated incident' |
Ministers have also backed the plans. | Ministers have also backed the plans. |
And they were described as "balanced safe" by the Labour chairman of the European Parliament's transport committee. | |
"We are trying to get a more uniform system in place that the whole of Europe can work to," said MEP Brian Simpson. | |
"The proposed changes will either continue to ensure high levels of aviation safety or will improve the present standards in many member states." | |
The move comes after an incident log from last month recorded two pilots on an Airbus passenger plane falling asleep at the same time while the aircraft was mid-flight on autopilot. | |
The airline concerned disputed the report, the CAA said. | The airline concerned disputed the report, the CAA said. |