Only ONE way to beat increase in Duty Hours
With reference to the proposed JAA regulations to increase duty hours, it becomes obvious that Governments are caving in to economic lobbying.
So aircrew must fight 'fire' with 'fire'.
To refuse to fly will place pilots' careers' at risk, a poor return (from a pilot's Bank manager's point of view) for possibly saving lives in any 'theoretical' impendng accident.
The best way forward surely is to join forces with Consumer pressure groups to force airlines to declare how long the crew have been on any sort of duty prior to the flight so the passenger at the gate can make his own decision (helped by BALPA adverts in Travel magazines). Of course the praticalities of this are fraught with problems especially in the light of delays due to maint problems et al; I am sure some bright person could work something out.
The end result should be airlines being blacklisted by consumer groups for non compliance to declare. The rest is left to the airlines who, being in cut-throat mode already will do anything the fare-paying passenger asks to sell a seat that may have gone to a competitor.
The consumer is the best weapon anyone can have in a service/transport industry.