Nick Griffin, MEP, has received a request for support from BALPA, the British Airline Pilots Association, regarding the EU’s attempt to harmonise flight safety rules across the Member states. 

BALPA is very concerned about these rules which the European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) is campaigning to implement at EU level.  The new rules will affect flight time limitations and could increase the chance of pilot fatigue.  

On 18th January, 2012 EASA published a Comment Response Document on implementing rules on Flight and Duty Time Limitations and rest requirements for commercial air transport, also known as the FTL regulations. More  A special edition of EASA News on this is located HERE. 

BALPA’s video is HERE which discusses their concern about these rules.  In their letter BALPA states, “We’re currently examining the latest version of the EU’s rules, but we know from first glance that they could see pilots landing after having been awake for 22 hours. Clearly madness.”

They have indicated they will be asking for support of this issue again in the coming weeks.  The UK House of Commons Transport Committee will be conducting an inquiry into flight time limitations, a report is forthcoming.  Please sign their petition HERE:

This request to Nick for support came from BALPA, which is a professional association and registered trade union, established to represent the interests of all UK pilots.  They represent over 75 % of all fixed wing pilots and helicopter air crews who are based in the UK, over 10,000 professional flight crew members.  They also represent many working overseas.  

BALPA has voiced concerns over these FTL issues which currently affect their industry.  Nick Griffin shares their concerns, and he has voted per their recommendations in the past.  He again will be voting with the pilots and air crews in the upcoming weeks.

Furthermore, the new flight time limitation (FTL) rules proposed by EASA are receiving varied responses from industry commentators, with only the AEA (Association of European Airlines) welcoming the new regulations with open arms. AEA assure us that the EASA proposal is in fact strict, their Secretary General, Ulrich Schulte-Strathaus has stated,  “these new European FTL rules will be among the most stringent in the world.“ 

The European Cockpit Association in contrast, has said that the EASA “ignores scientific research in key aspects of its proposal.”   The ECA state that pilots are criticising the rules feel they are asking them to put in excessive working times when on standby.  They have asked that night duty be limited to 10 hours.