Post date: Oct 01, 2012 5:35:25 PM
BRUSSELS, BELGIUM (OCTOBER 1, 2012) (REUTERS) - The European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) presented its new limits for pilot flight and duty schedules on Monday (October 1) in Brussels.
European Aviation Safety Agency presents new Flight and Duty Time Requirements for flight crew.
According to Jean-Marc Cluzeau, head of the Flight Standard Department at EASA, the proposal contains only safety improvements regulating the way crews can be scheduled, in part replacing national regulations.
Cluzeau pointed out that safety depends on the combination of flight duty periods and subsequent rest periods.
"It is scientifically proven that when a crew is well rested, it can have a flight period of 14 hours. Our recommendations, the very important parts of our recommendation are focused on this very important question, what rest recommendation we give to the flight crew, so that it can be well rested before starting a 14 hour flight period duty," Cluzeau said at a news briefing.
The European Cockpit Association (ECS) rejected the suggested night flying shifts of more than ten hours and combined standby and flying duty periods that could exceed 22 hours.
Nico Voorbach, President of the European Pilot Association (ECA), called on European pilots to oppose the new measures.
"They say we limit it to 11 hours but that is still outside of safety according to science. The other point is standby. If you are standby at home, and you are not called for the first eight hours you can make flying days of 22 hours, sometimes even up to 24 hours awake before you land the aircraft", said Voorbach, as he stood outside the EASA headquarters in protest.
The ECA is running a campaign titled "Dead-Tired.EU", which claims the proposed regulation could endanger the lives of crew, passengers and people on the ground.
The EASA's suggestions will enter the legislative process of the European Commission. The European Commission will finalize the EASA draft, which then must be approved by EU Member States and considered by the European Parliament before it can be adopted into EU law.