Ryanair rejects claims it forces pilots to work beyond 900-hour limit

CLAIMS that Ryanair pilots are forced to work beyond their 900-hour yearly limit have been rejected by the low-fares airline and the Irish Aviation Authority.

The British Airline Pilots Association (BAPA) made the allegations but IMPACT, which represents hundreds of Irish pilots, said it had no complaints against the airline. In a strong rejection of the British pilots’ allegations, Ryanair say the average flight hours for their pilots was 809 hours.

One BAPA member says he is suing Ryanair for unfair dismissal after he was sacked when he made a procedural error at the end of what he claims was an exhausting schedule.

The pilots said they fear if they lose concentration because of fatigue and there is an incident, they may be over the legal flying hours and subject to criminal proceedings, along with the airline.

The Irish Aviation Authority (IAA) said yesterday it had received just one official complaint and there had been no change in its safety regulations in relation to pilot hours.

IAA corporate communications officer Lilian Cassin said they had only received the complaint in the past week or two and no evidence had so far been found to support the allegation.

She said IAA procedures were subject to the same comprehensive international standards as those in Britain.

Ms Cassin emphasised IAA regulations were just as stringent than those of the British authorities.

Both Germany and the USA allow pilots work 1,000 hours annually compared to the more conservative IAA limit of 900 hours.

Ryanair said the claims by the British-based pilots’ group were untrue.

A spokesman for the airline said it operates an approved flight-time limitation system whereby no Ryanair pilot may fly more than 900 hours in any year.

Any Ryanair pilot who reaches 900 hours is not allowed to fly until the following year. Additionally, their pilots are subject to individual monthly limits of 100 flight hours.

The spokesman added: “The system is further enhanced by Ryanair’s stable rosters, all of which are issued 28 days in advance, with a guaranteed minimum of five days off in every 14-day period with pilots operating from their home bases and no night-time flying.”