A leading research authority on pilot fatigue and its effect on flight safety has shunned an opportunity to advise European aviation authorities directing a scientific and medical review of new flight-duty rules.
Scientists at Qinetiq, Europe's biggest science and technology research organisation, together with expert colleagues from 10 consortium partners, were approached by the European Aviation Safety Agency on the basis of their previous high-level work on sleep, circadian rhythms and levels of alertness of long-haul aircrew. But the Qinetiq-led consortium has declined to get involved, claiming the assignment is far too complex a piece of research to be completed within the �150,000 ($200,000) budget allocated and within what it says is an inadequate six-month timeframe.
Flight time limitations will become a European Union Operations (EU Ops) regulation in July next year, and be enforced by EASA throughout EU member states. The maximum flight-duty period in the draft legislation is 13h for a one- or two-sector day, with a potential extension of 1h, which operators may use no more than twice a week. The maximum flying hours within any consecutive 28-day period will be 100, with 900h the annual limit.
Earlier this year EASA commissioned a medical and scientific review by the "best available experts" to ensure the effectiveness of the new rules in real airline operations, acknowledging that although widely accepted, "some elements need more attention than others". The contract tender document notes: "The agency has...defined the criteria to be met by these experts to guarantee a high level of knowledge, competence and independence, so that their conclusions can provide for a strong scientific basis for regulating flight-time limitations and rest periods in an objective way."
Qinetiq says EASA was deemed to be asking "too much, too quickly and for not enough". It adds: "Each consortium member looked at it and each decided they could not do it justice in terms of providing the best level of impartial advice. We all individually have our industrial reputations to consider and we did not think we could deliver work appropriate to our respective reputations considering the rigour and highly complex scope requested."
Qinetiq says that should the tender requirements change, it may reconsider, adding: "We were keen to be involved in the debate and remain so."
The successful contract bid should be known on 27 July, with work scheduled to start on 1 September and be completed by the end of March.
Source: Flight International
