No, it isn't EU wide. Yes, one shouldn't leave the flight deck when there is a disturbance in the cabin, but one can certainly leave it for physiological need which includes stretching ones legs.

Not in the XAA orders and local company orders in force for the last 2 airlines I flew for. It is remarkable that there can be such a variation with 'security in flight' issues. I had assumed that this had been a JAA imposition on all EU airlines in line with common before boarding regs for pax. Seems I was misguided, if no longer affected.

There are a few 5 and 6 sector days in the mix at Flybe. The proposed new FTL's are actually scary, it will literally become just a matter of time until a fatigue related incident.

Yes, quite LJ. I did know that but didn't want to overstate the case - I used to do 6 sectors on some days.

The "powers that be" are either ignorant of the pilot working conditions and potential and actual fatigue in 2013 - in which case they need to re-evaluate it and not rely on data from 20 years ago,

Or, they DO know full well but are ignoring it and trusting to dumb luck that there won't be an accident on their watch - in which case they should be in court.

In other words, they're either incompetent or criminally negligent, but either way unfit for purpose as a regulator. Given the amount of protest they got from unions, the scientific community and some political elements including the EU Transport Select Committee, no less, then ignorance and incompetence can be all but ruled out. The first fatigue related crash one the new FTL scheme is in force should result in the prosecution of those who wrote and backed it.

…….then ignorance and incompetence can be all but ruled out.

I understand the ignorance part, but don't follow the incompetence bit?

The first fatigue related crash one the new FTL scheme is in force should result in the prosecution of those who wrote and backed it.

Sadly, likely to be very difficult to prove. It was suggested by AAIB many years ago that the B737 freighter crash in Coventry might well have had some contribution from fatigue. Speculation m'lud. Hearsay etc. In the case of the coach-driver caused crashes in 70's & 80's from Greece to UK the surviving pax saw the driver asleep. In came the regulations and oversight etc. To achieve the same cause & effect of rule change in our world will be very difficult. Money talks and there is a lot of it lined up against the pilots' arguments.

Pilots are their own worst enemies. How many position to their base from afar then operate. I have been told of one who comes over from Winnipeg to heathrow & then Operates to Hong Kong. I recently filed a fatigue report that was up held & the company have altered the roster for future rotations. However crews are still positioning themselves prior to the flight despite hotac being made available.
Shot foot comes to mind.

However crews are still positioning themselves prior to the flight despite hotac being made available. Shot foot comes to mind.

In various airlines where pilots are contractors and are based away from home, thus no hotel is provided, nor duty time to commute, this is also not unheard of. Trying to get a home life comes to mind. XAA's turn blind eyes.

Not to condone it, but that's the reality. Who's at fault; the pilot, the company, XAA or all 3?