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MEPs pass flying hours bill in defiance of committee MEPs pass flying hours bill in defiance of committee
(35 minutes later)
The European Parliament has passed a bill to regulate pilots' working hours despite its rejection by their own transport committee.The European Parliament has passed a bill to regulate pilots' working hours despite its rejection by their own transport committee.
The committee rejected it last week by 21 votes to 13 after safety concerns were raised by the British Airline Pilots Association (Balpa) and others.The committee rejected it last week by 21 votes to 13 after safety concerns were raised by the British Airline Pilots Association (Balpa) and others.
The European Commission wants to standardise the varying time limits for flying across member states.The European Commission wants to standardise the varying time limits for flying across member states.
Only the EU Council of Ministers can now stop the bill becoming law.Only the EU Council of Ministers can now stop the bill becoming law.
EU member states, including the UK, backed the plans, as did Britain's Civil Aviation Authority (CAA).
Balpa argues the proposals could mean some aircrews fly for longer, with more risk of pilots falling asleep at the controls.Balpa argues the proposals could mean some aircrews fly for longer, with more risk of pilots falling asleep at the controls.
But the European Commission says Wednesday's vote means aviation safety has been improved. 'Lives at risk'
EU officials insist these new rules will boost safety standards and ensure that all European airlines have the same maximum time limits for flying, the BBC's Duncan Crawford reports from Strasbourg.EU officials insist these new rules will boost safety standards and ensure that all European airlines have the same maximum time limits for flying, the BBC's Duncan Crawford reports from Strasbourg.
But there has been a huge row over whether the proposals really will make flying safer, he says.But there has been a huge row over whether the proposals really will make flying safer, he says.
Balpa argues that loopholes in the proposals could result in British aircrews being on shift for longer, with pilots potentially being awake for 22 hours before needing to land an aircraft.Balpa argues that loopholes in the proposals could result in British aircrews being on shift for longer, with pilots potentially being awake for 22 hours before needing to land an aircraft.
That claim has been dismissed as a distortion. An EU official said suggestions the rules weaken safety were "false and irresponsible". Jim McAuslan, Balpa's secretary general, said after the vote: "British pilots want to make every flight a safe flight and are deeply concerned that these unsafe new EU rules will put the lives of passengers at risk."
EU member states, including the UK, have backed the plans, as has the Civil Aviation Authority. He accused the British government and CAA of forcing through the new regulations by doing "dodgy last-minute backroom deals, which have been made up as they have gone along".
British pilots have now called for the UK government to block the measures. "Passengers and pilots deserve flight safety rules based on rigorous science and evidence, not secret dodgy deal-making in Strasbourg, which will mean that Britain no longer has the safest skies in Europe."
That claim has been dismissed as a distortion, our correspondent says. An EU official said suggestions the new rules would weaken safety were "false and irresponsible".
In a statement, the CAA said the new act would give regulators "far greater oversight of fatigue".
"The CAA is calling on the aviation industry to work together to ensure that reporting is improved, fatigue management is strengthened and the new European rules, when implemented, are utilised to their full to enhance aviation safety," the UK body said.