FTLs are not designed to give pilots an easy lifestyle- they are for the protection of passengers, whatever colour of clothes they are wearing.
Hang on a minute....."normal levels of safety". The RAF has a 16 hr CDT (by & large); other air forces work to 18 hours. I'm not saying this is right, or should be the norm, but I do object to the intimation that this is endangering the passengers' lives.