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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.
But UK pilots' union Balpa says the move would cut safety standards and see more pilots suffering fatigue. The chairman of the European Parliament's transport committee said the rules would maintain or improve safety across the EU.
Air travel regulator the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) said the changes would improve safety on some flights. But pilots' union Balpa warned it would increase fatigue among UK aircrew.
Balpa claimed the new rules would allow pilots to: 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 by the union suggested more than half of pilots had fallen asleep while in charge of an aircraft - with one in three waking to find their co-pilot sleeping as well. 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 will be introduced in 2015. 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.
But support for the pilots' case has come from Commons Transport Committee chairwoman Louise Ellman. And they were described as "balanced safe" by the Labour chairman of the European Parliament's transport committee.
In Balpa's poll of 500 commercial pilots, 56% admitted sleeping and 29% said they had woken up to find the other pilot asleep as well. "We are trying to get a more uniform system in place that the whole of Europe can work to," said MEP Brian Simpson.
The survey came after an incident log recorded two pilots on an Airbus passenger plane falling asleep at the same time while the aircraft was mid-flight on autopilot. "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.