Air passengers are at risk from pilots working too many hours under new European Union regulations, according to airline union British Airline Pilots’ Association (BALPA).
Pilots and cabin crew are expected to stage demonstrations across Europe today over longer working hours set out by the EU. The rules allow up to 14 hours flying during the day and 11 hours 45 minutes at night. However, the union said passengers’ safety is already at risk because of pilot fatigue. It argued that fatigue is a factor in 15% of accidents.
BALPA general secretary Jim McAuslan 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 the other factors that make up a pilot’s life.”
British pilots will not be demonstrating, but are expected to join the protests being staged in 35 other countries. The rules have already come into force in some countries, and will apply to UK airlines from 2012. The European Parliament has instructed the European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) to forward the rules to safety experts and scientists.
A Department for Transport spokesman said safety would not be compromised by the new rules. “The EASA is 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 2011, we are confident they will maintain the same high level of safety as current rules. Passenger and crew safety is our top priority, and we will not allow this to be compromised.”