Is this the right answer?
Thank you for contacting me to express concern about the proposed changes to EU rules on European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) Flight and Duty Time Limitations and rest requirements for commercial air transport. I of course understand your concern that revision of EU rules should not run the risk of increasing fatigue, which is crucially linked to the safety of the pilot, the crew and the passengers.
The European Parliament's Transport and Tourism committee (TRAN) has indeed rejected to the European Commission's flight and duty time limitations measures, but the proposal is now set to be voted on by the plenary of the Parliament on October 9th.
Liberal Democrat MEPs, as part of the Alliance of Liberals and Democrats group, support a 'Single European Sky' agreement, which will have numerous benefits for the European aviation market. My colleague Phil Bennion MEP, the Liberal Democrat European transport spokesman, is aware of the pilots' concerns but believes a set of common rules would mean "less unnecessary red tape for airlines, fewer delays for passengers and a more efficient and environmentally sustainable aviation market. British passengers travelling on other European airlines will also be far safer in the knowledge that there are robust, common limits on maximum flight time for pilots across the EU."
Phil Bennion has consulted the UK Civil Aviation Authority regarding the Commission proposal, and their view is that it provides a level of safety broadly equivalent to that provided by existing UK rules. Some provisions are less restrictive than the UK requirements, whereas others are more restrictive. Also, in addition to hard limits, the Commission proposal contains 'outcome requirements' that improve on current UK - requirements and in line with UK thinking on aviation safety rules.
On fatigue more precisely, the Regulation establishes outcome-based rules which will require airlines to manage fatigue actively rather than rely on compliance with set limits and ensure fatigue is being appropriately managed through additional regulatory tools. The 22-hour figure that has been widely quoted is argued to be disingenuous as it counts a 10 hour 'at home' period, where pilots can be asleep, as work.
The UK government supports the European Commission's proposal as they are satisfied the Regulation will not lead to any diminution in safety in the UK. Failure to adopt the Flying Time Limits Regulation will result in the existing, less effective, EU rules remaining in force with no scope for amendment for a number of years.
Yours sincerely,
MEP (withheld)