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Pilots protest over flying hours
Airliner
Pilots claim long duty hours are putting passengers in danger

Airline pilots who say long flying hours are "putting lives at risk" are to hold demonstrations across Europe.

European air crew unions argue current rules governing how long they can fly for are unsafe, with fatigue a factor in 15% of accidents.

But the European Aviation Safety Agency says it is still considering a scientific report on the issue.

There will be no demonstrations in the UK because industrial action by pilots is outlawed.

British pilots are expected to join demonstrations on the continent with colleagues from 35 other countries.

It is not clear whether the action will cause disruption to travellers.

Pilots and air crew have complained that their working conditions have deteriorated as the airline industry looks to cut costs.

The British Airline Pilots Association (Balpa) said two million leaflets would be handed out across Europe by the protesters.

The general secretary of Balpa, Jim McAuslan, said he feared that attempts by the EU to standardise working conditions by 2012 would put more pressure on pilots.


This is a defining moment in how passengers will be protected
Jim McAuslan,
British Airline Pilots Association

He said: "Only fatigue experts understand the impact on a body of flying through so many time zones, having consecutive early starts and late duties and all the other factors that make up a pilot's life.

Mr McAusland told the BBC that while EU law meant a pilot could work up to 14 hours a day, scientists believe they should not exceed 13 hours.

"Anything over that increases the risk of an accident by five and a half times," he said.

"When that's brought home to the public, I hope the public will put pressure on the regulator to say 'you mustn't do this - you must listen to what science has been saying.'"

A Department for Transport spokesman insisted that safety would not be compromised by the new rules.

He said: "The European Aviation Safety Agency is in the process of considering the responses to its consultation on a first draft of rules establishing flight and duty time limits.

"While these are unlikely to be finalised until some time in 2011, we are confident they will maintain the same high level of safety as the current rules.

"The safety of passengers and crew is our top priority and we will not allow this to be compromised."