The European air safety agency has proposed new limits on flight hours for commercial pilots to combat fatigue. The new rules would prohibit pilots from being on duty for longer than 14 hours during the day and 12 hours at night. The rules would standardise regulations across the EU.
“The (document) requires all operators to ensure that the performance of crew members will not deteriorate to the extent that flight safety is endangered because of the effects of fatigue,” the European Aviation Safety Agency said in a statement.
The proposals are out for consultation before a final recommendation is issued to the EU with the final regulations coming into force by April, 2012.
In the United States, new proposals from the Federal Aviation Administration aims to prevent pilots working longer than 13 hours in a 24-hour period.
Airlines on both sides of the Atlantic have complained about the new rules.