Brussels, 19/02/2004 (Agence Europe) - Last week, the European Commission adopted by written procedure its modified proposed regulation on the standardisation of technical rules and administrative procedures in the field of civil aviation, the objective of which is to establish common safety standards for commercial aircraft used by registered Community operators inside or outside Community territory. In it, the Commission has included minimum standards for flight and rest times for pilots and cabin crew, and various requirements for cabin crew (in terms of age, medical condition, professional skills), in order to step up aviation safety.
It was by request of the European Parliament (see EUROPE of 6 September 2002, p.14 and of 19 July 2002, p.13) that the Commission included in the technical annex of the regulation provisions on flight and rest times for pilots and cabin crew (currently set at national level): the maximum duration of flight service will be 13 hours by day and 11 hours, 45 minutes at night (between 10pm and 4.59am). A minimum rest time of 10 to 12 hours will be obligatory. The modified proposal includes the possibility for derogations, as long as the carrier requesting a derogation can prove a sufficient level of safety. Three years after the regulation enters into force, it provides for the European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) to carry out a scientific and medical evaluation, to allow the Commission to make proposals to modify the annex, if needs be. It also includes safety requirements for cabin crew, in terms of age, medical condition and professional aptitude.
At the time, the Commission's proposed regulation and the Parliament's position came in for strong criticism by the European Cockpit Association (ECA), which stated that "scientific opinions that these provisions could present a threat to air safety" had not been taken into account (see the above-mentioned bulletins).