[BigDog.]

I guess there will continue to be a drip feed of scaremongering stories before the full EU parliament vote on standardising pilot hours and cover across Europe later this month.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/newsbysector/transport/10345203/Euro-MPs-reject-move-to-increase-UK-pilots-working-hours.html

A committee has already voted against changes, even though standardising hours from 900 to 1000 or 22 hours per week inc 6 weeks pa off is not remotely excessive.

http://work.chron.com/duty-limitations-faa-pilot-17646.html

Another non-story courtesy of the DM and BALPA. This time it is a BA pilot going sick just before landing….

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2439923/Pilot-BA-flight-Heathrow-left-cabin-sick-leaving-captain-land-plane-own.html

.. all procedures were followed correctly, the captain did his job and landed the plane, yet the incident is being bought into the public arena (by the pilot union BALPA?) to whip up safety concerns, pressurise the MEPs and ensure UK pilots maintain their archaic terms and conditions.

[Xuluman]

“Bought” into the public arena? Haha

As opposed to the likes of yourself, with zero working knowledge of the profession and a huge chip on your shoulder?

Struggling for support from your peers, let alone those who hold a vote.

[BigDog.]

I hope you aren’t a pilot Xuluman given your lack of ability to come up with any performance management initiatives, I guess quick thinking isn’t a forte for you. Best stick to skills you have demonstrated superbly here – trolling.

Suggest if you wish to make a positive contribution to the forum in future Xuluman try adding factual insights into the specific thread topic instead of making merely condescending/snide remarks towards a poster when you do not concur with their views (views which are shared by the FAA, CAA, several airline associations and industry professionals). Grow up, stop being so boorish and start being a credit to your employer.

[BigDog.]

As predicted, BALPA (the UK pilots union) continues its scaremongering today to keep the archaic terms and conditions of pilots – including flying only 900 hours per year which equates to less than 20 hours per week for a 46 work week per year.

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2448255/Shocking-dossier-pilot-fatigue-released-EU-aims-force-insane-new-flying-hours-rules-passengers-lives-risk.html

The CAA and many other airline groups are in favour of the changes, one of which would harmonise hours across Europe – resulting in some pilots max hours raising from 900 to 1000. The FAA in the US and many airlines already us the 1000 hour limit.

BALPA uses the worst case scenario in an attempt to manipulate the EU. It fails to mention the rest facilities available let alone the autopilot which is well capable of landing an aircraft even in zero-zero conditions – something a pilot would baulk at. BALPA also fails to mention that some pilots intentionally flex their schedules to concentrate their monthly workload in order to get longer periods of time off.

The CAA – the UK’s specialist aviation safety regulator – is satisfied that the proposed requirements will improve safety across the EU as a whole.

[londonlad]

More anti pilot rhetoric bigdog..

The dispute was years ago, time to move on… Go back to BASSA HQ and crewforum.

[BigDog.]

Londonlad. Apart from being an occasional passenger and a shareholder in IAG, I have no current or historic connection whatsoever with BA or BASSA. A fact which I have informed you of before.

I guess the last refuge of a malingerer is to attack the messenger – time to accept modern work practices as many pilots already have done.

As crew share information on this site, can a pilot please detail the exceptional scenario, which BALPA appears to leverage, whereby a pilot could be forced to work for 22 consecutive hours.

It is good to remember that BALPA does not represent many UK pilots.

[BigDog.]

A pilot colleague is of the view that this propaganda exercise by the union BALPA is more about retaining current conditions than safety.

He was of the view that if safety was the primary concern BALPA should lobbying for schedules that avoid fatigue. Currently a pilot could return from an 8/9 day Singapore trip and 24 hours later have a Los Angeles trip. Cabin crew on the other hand have four days rest.

Pilots are able to organise their rosters to have their monthly workload schedule concentrated thus saving up what should be rest/recovery time between trips in order to give a single a far longer period of time off.

Apparently the EU proposal includes….
“The proposed requirements go further than current requirements by obliging airlines to plan rotas and manage crew duties to actively address the risk of fatigue occurring in the first place.”

Clearly those many pilots who opt for intense working would be forced to have a more evenly distributed rota, something which does not appeal for their lifestyle but will reduce fatigue and therefore be safer.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/travel/travelnews/10360208/Fatigue-fears-outlined-by-pilots.html

[BigDog.]

Good to see common sense has prevailed with EU MEPs backing the pilot working hours bill. Backed by the CAA, it will bring in better safety standards across Europe. For example preventing pilots risking fatigue by concentrating their monthly workload into a short a time as possible in order to maximize time off periods. Workload will be distributed less intensely providing for sufficient rest periods between flights and preventing saving up of rest time.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-24461640

Of course the union BALPA does not see it that way and am yet to see the breakdown of BALPA’s 22 hours scaremongering scenario.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/travel/travelnews/10366525/Euro-MPs-back-longer-flying-hours.html

[Author]

Posts