Attention: 0 months, 3 weeks, 3 days
until the end of the comment period for the new flightdutytimes regulations. Thereafter it becomes the final draft law.
Every person who boards an airliner has the right to reach their destination safely. The spectacular case of the emergency landing on the Hudson River is impressive proof of how important it is for pilots to always be fully capable of performing their work. The basic prerequisite for ensuring that the crew can meet and overcome all challenges effectively is for them to be well-rested when executing their duties. Well-considered, responsible legal stipulations on flight duty times are intended to ensure exactly that.
The flight duty time regulations in Europe have been a source of great controversy for years, because they lack a sound, scientific basis. Today’s pilots already fly longer than is acceptable.
Following a plane crash in Buffalo, New York, in which 50 people were killed, the United States finally recognised that urgent action was needed to develop new flight duty time regulations based on scientific evidence and study.
Also in Europe, the flight duty time regulations are currently under revision. However in Europe, the commercial concerns of the industry seem to be playing a far greater role. It is becoming apparent that the opportunity to finally create truly responsible regulations – and thereby increase flight safety over the long-term – is being squandered. More background information on this is available here.