The UK Transport Select Committee will today investigate new EU pilot fatigue rules that could legally allow pilots to land their aircraft 22 hours after they woke for the day.
The British Airline Pilots’ Association (BALPA) claims the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) – the UK regulator for flight safety – has said it has no fundamental problem with the rules. BALPA said: “This astonishing admission comes exactly three years after an air disaster in Buffalo, New York, which was partly due to pilot fatigue, that brought about a toughening-up of pilot fatigue rules. But here in Europe, we’re headed in the opposite direction.” The association will meet the Transport Select Committee to highlight its concerns today.