Brussels, 21/05/2012 (Agence Europe) - The gulf between airline pilots and the airlines is growing ever deeper. Last week's meeting between the European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) on safety standards for pilots' working hours left the latter feeling largely out of sorts.
Last Monday, pilots and flight crews demonstrated at the EASA HQ in Cologne to once again draw attention to the level of danger represented by pilot fatigue, which has been scientifically confirmed. A subsequent meeting should have allowed pilots to outline their grievances to EASA, which they accuse of formulating proposals on pilot rest periods and standby times that undermine safety. The meeting last week was, according to the European Cockpit Association (ECA) and the European Transport Federation (ETF), a fiasco. They think that EASA has been overly sympathetic to demands made by the airlines. In their joint statement they explained that this meeting on air cabin crew fatigue could have improved the EASA proposal and provided the scientific input that is sorely needed, as well as safety considerations in a draft law that is already very controversial. They pointed out in a joint press release, however, that the contrary transpired and they observed a concerted effort to undermine safety measures, so as to reduce airline costs. They find it particularly intolerable that the airlines are putting profit before safety. They are critical of the long hours worked at night and the multiple flights beyond what is considered by scientific studies to be safe, and that economy class seats are considered rest facilities on long-haul flights.
The battle looks like it will be a long one for pilots and flight crews. Another meeting is planned with EASA in which they will put forward their arguments. This will be followed by a presentation by the agency of its proposal in June or July. It will be on this basis that the Commission will, in turn, formulate its legislative proposal in the second half of the year. (MD/transl.fl)