Brussels, 07/01/2013 (Agence Europe) - Saïd El Khadraoui MEP (S&D, Belgium) has warned against lower benchmarking being introduced in the aviation sector. He took Transport Commissioner Siim Kallas to task over flights being made with minimum levels of fuel and the on-going review of flying and pilot rest times.
El Khadraoui is the spokesperson for the European Socialists on transport issues. He expressed his concerns following allegations from four pilots from the low-cost Ryanair airline who had been encouraged to fly with minimum amounts of fuel (anonymous testimonies in a report on the Dutch KRO Reporter programme broadcast on 28 December 2012). This is a situation across the sector that has already been criticised by the European Cockpit Association (ECA). The MEP highlighted the safety dangers that this kind of pressure involves and called on the European Commissioner to provide an appropriate response. El Khadraoui declared that “the symptoms are sufficiently worrying for a deeper investigation to be carried out by the European Aviation Safety Agency, in cooperation with national aviation authorities”.
He also drew attention to another issue: that of the on-going review of European rules on rest and flying times. He backs legislation that does not allow “airlines to flirt with basic safety standards in order to cut flying costs”. He is also waiting for an explanation to be provided on this subject from the Commissioner. The pilots themselves have sounded the alarm over a review that they consider as not providing enough safety for passengers because it allows pilots and their crews to fly while overly tired. The ECA and the European Transport Workers Federation (ETF) are planning action in European airports on 22 January to draw attention to this legislative procedure. (MD/transl.fl)