Pilots Decry EASA Proposal for ‘Harmonized’ Duty-time Limits
‘Harmonized’ duty-time rules for pilots in Europe would allow shifts starting at 4 p.m. to last as long as 12.5 hours. (Photo: Fotolia)
‘Harmonized’ duty-time rules for pilots in Europe would allow shifts starting at 4 p.m. to last as long as 12.5 hours. (Photo: Fotolia)

So-called harmonized flight- and duty-time rules for pilots and cabin crew approved by a European Aviation Safety Agency committee on July 11 drew sharply different reactions from Europe’s pilot union coalition and airline associations on Monday. Speaking with AIN last Tuesday, European Cockpit Association president Nico Voorbach characterized the basis for the new rules as unscientific and driven wholly by the interests of the airline lobby in Europe. In a joint statement issued July 15, the Association of European Airlines (AEA), the European Regions Airline Association (ERA) and International Air Carrier Association (IACA) lauded the EASA proposal as “balanced” and called for adoption “without delay.”