The UK Civil Aviation Authority believes that the proposal by Brian Simpson MEP for the introduction of a European Union (EU) Flight Time Limitation (FTL) Requirement, while not covering all areas of fatigue management of aircrew, will make a good baseline document for an EU-wide FTL Scheme, provided that the proposal is amended in line with comments made by the CAA to the UK's Department for Transport.
Even a member of the European Committee on Aircrew Scheduling and Safety, which has been quoted as being against the Simpson proposal, stated at the recent European Transport Safety Council meeting: "We recognise the value and importance of moving towards a fully harmonised approach. We have therefore indicated a possible way forward. This would use the current proposal and build on it to ensure that the same standards are applied throughout Europe and that the concerns regarding fatigue risks are properly addressed."
If the proposal is adopted into EU law, then all EU member states would have to apply its minimum requirements. This baseline European FTL requirement would then be open for amendment and development. The proposal also allows for individual states to apply additional provisions.
Capt D J Chapman Head Flight Operations Department Civil Aviation Authority, Gatwick, UK
Source: Flight International
