Arbeids- og flygetidsbestemmelser - FTL

Mandag legger EASA frem det endelige resultat av årevis med ørkenvandring for å utarbeide det såkalte Subpart Q JAR-OPS 1 og 3. The European Cockpit Associations, som også innbefatter Norsk Flygerforbund, reaksjon er særdeles negativ til de nye reglene og er utformet slik:
The European Cockpit Association has responded to the European Aviation Safety Agency’s (EASA) proposal regarding Flight Limitation Time (FTL).

In a statement issued yesterday the ECA commented that the proposal was “Disregarding scientific evidence and designed to avoid costs to the airlines”, the statement went on to say that “these rules are well below the standards to be expected from a credible safety regulator. If not changed significantly, they will reduce safety standards currently in place in many EU countries – to the detriment of Europe’s travelling public”.
Captain Martin Chalk, the ECA’s President said “After one year of work on the next generation of EU “Flight Time Limitation” (FTL) rules, the text proposed by EASA is more than disappointing. The Agency had a unique opportunity to present a solid, science-based and safety-oriented FTL law – one that is comparable to what the US Federal Aviation Administration proposes and to the United Kingdom’s well developed and industry supported FTL rules. Yet, this opportunity has been missed, which puts the EU at the bottom end of international safety regulators.”
Philip von Schöppenthau, the Association’s Secretary General, added “Flight Time Limitations are about the human body clock and physical limits. But EASA seems to suggest Europe’s pilots are more fatigue-resistant and can fly longer hours than their American counterparts and more than scientific studies say is safe...EASA’s rules disregard decades of scientific research. Why? Because of years of aggressive airline lobbying against any new rules that might increase their costs. I am not sure their passengers will appreciate that”.
ECA concluded its response by saying “Comparing EASA’s rules to the ones of the UK shows the extent of safety-regression that will happen: in future, an airline could let their pilots start at 05:30 in the morning, carry out 4 take-offs and 4 landings and end their duty at 18:15, i.e. after 12.45 hours. The UK rules, which govern 20% of the EU’s aviation market, allow for no more than 9 hours. ECA, representing European 38.600 pilots, strongly rejects these rules and calls on the EU Institutions to promote science-based safety rules to protect Europe’s travelling public”.