"I have received a message from Paul explaining some of the background to the other article in the Telegraph and as in most cases there is more to the background that appears at first. Let us just say that the editor has a hell of a lot to answer for."
Ok, Danny - let us give him the benefit of the doubt, from what you tell us.
Firstly - can we have a link to the 'proposals' please. Otherwise it is impossible to discuss selected bits and pieces. The package needs to be looked at in the round.
Secondly, for Mr Miles, the current duty period under UK rules varies from a minimum of 9 hours to a maximum of 14 hours, so in effect this would represent a reduction in maximum duty period. HOWEVER, under present rules, if you start duty at 0559 local and fly, say, 4 sectors, you are limited to 9 hours duty. You indicate that this limit increases to 12 hrs 59 minutes. Pilots will DEFINITELY 'fall asleep at the wheel' with those sort of days!
On the face of what you say, the day off 'per week' (is that a seven day week or a Monday to Sunday week and is it a day off IN ANY WEEK ie does the week 'restart' following the time off or at the start of it?) is an improvement of 2 hours off and a reduction of 1 working day between these single days off. At present you can work 7 days before a day off. The 168hrs bracket appears unchanged. What does it say about days off in a 4 week period etc. Is 'DUTY PERIOD' redefined? What does it say about the number of sectors flown in a duty period? Are you confused yet? Do you have a copy of the current regulations?
As I say, without the whole package, it is impossible to comment in a constructive way! Let us just say that current rules can cause extreme tiredness in crews where circadian rythms and/or early starts over a few days are disrupted/worked. As a further answer (based on personal experience only) it is not 'long flights' which are particularly tiring - it is repetitive disruption to 'normal' sleep/rest patterns which are the most damaging.