Irish pilots furious over EU limits on flying times

THE Irish Airline Pilot’s Association has criticised new proposals for EU rules on flight time limitations, published by the European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA).

IALPA president, Captain Evan Cullen, said pilots were disappointed that EASA has disregarded the available scientific evidence and introduced rules that will compromise safety.

The EASA proposals are for pilots to fly a maximum of 14 hours per day during “day duties” and 12 hours for “night duties” for up to seven days in a row. The equivalent proposals from the US’s governing body are for 13 and 9 hours, respectively, and for a maximum of three consecutive nights.