Moodymoosey: I have most definitley NOT forgotten why I got into this industry...., it is precisely the reason I would also like and even playing field. I was not moaning as you so tactfully put it, if you read my post you would have noticed that it was more or less a question as to why in fact there is no level playing field.
Airlines depend on every employee working together to keep it going, I understand it, respect it and actually really enjoy it. As you pointed out, many ground staff work much longer hours than we do, and some of them much, much more physically demanding, however HASAWA DOES apply to them. Whether or not their employer pays any attention to it is not the point. HASAWA was put together to empower and protect employees from ruthless employers running a "sweat shop". My point is that I do not believe that CAP371 does the same, it simply points out the maximum allowed to the individual airlines, who then submit their responses and interpretations, based on that maximum.
I agree that operators, unions and consultation bodies must try to work harder to get better conditions for flying staff, and also understand that the ground staff dealing with 12 hour delayed pax don't just walk off when their break is due, the point is though that they can !!
You say that. . "Furthermore, we should all remember that CAP371 is a publication aimed at reducing the instances of fatigue in aircrew.....not a labour agreement"
Is the HASAWA a labour agreement? <img src="eek.gif" border="0"> <img src="eek.gif" border="0">