You can email your concerns c/o
Anna Wielki-Sergio
Assistant to Diego Canga Fano
Deputy Head of Cabinet to VP Tajani
European Commission
here:
Anna dot Wielki-Sergio at ec dot europa dot eu
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Here is my reply to first contact with them in March 2009:
"Please pass on my thanks to Mr Diego Canga Fano for his response to my enquiry and concerns.
It is hoped that EU wide harmonisation under EASA can be implemented with an improvement to Flight Safety. Particularly, the closing of current loopholes in the JAR system that has removed the requirement to obtain valuable flight experience from flight crew licensing criteria. This has also led to the demise of the flight instructor and general aviation route into commercial flying.
Whilst I accept that a 21 year old with excellent health, motor skills, mathematics and good interpersonal skills makes an ideal candidate for in house airline training (e.g: British Airways, KLM, Lufthansa have run sponsored schemes successfully), there is no substitute for experience. The recent incidents in New York (Airbus A320 in the Hudson River ) and at Schipol NL (Boeing 737 short finals Runway18R) highlight the need for experienced flight crew who know how to operate aircraft manually without computer dependance in order to avert catastrophe.
With defence cuts there are less ex Military pilots coming through to the airline world and many of today's younger pilots have not experienced flight outside of an automated environment apart from their initial fixed wing and Type specific Simulator training where systems can be failed in a safe learning environment.
These concerns have been researched in depth by Cranfield University see:
Flight safety takes centre stage
Their Flight Operations Research Centre of Excellence (FORCE) has done useful research. But the Airline Training Industry seems to have been reluctant to take on the researchers advice due to familiarity with the old training methods and cost issues. The latter's customer airlines have been attracted to the lower cost of pilot acquisition - the trainee now pays not only for initial training but also airline training and even to fly "the line" with fare paying passengers!
Flying an aeroplane can be an enjoyable and challenging lifelong expertise. Sadly, as a result of cost cutting to appease the directors of Low Cost operators, the career is no longer attractive to new comers. This was described succinctly by Capt C. Sullenberger to US Congress:
'Sully' to Congress: Pay cuts deter experienced pilots | New Jersey Real-Time News - - NJ.com
One solution:
An apprenticeship from basic training, through instructional or General Aviation (Parachute dropping, Glider towing, Courier, Survey flying, Navigational Aid Flight Testing, Business Aviation) then on to larger aeroplanes with the Airlines provides the pilot with an interesting career and a well rounded set of skills that are indispensable to Flight Safety. Pay and conditions will also need to improve to retain experienced crews within the EU.
Thank you for your time and consideration.
Yours Sincerely"