AEA: Flight and Duty Time Limitations: joint responsibility of airlines and pilots to ensure safety

Today, during the hearing of the European Parliament on the Flight and Duty Time Limitations (FTL) for pilots and cabin crew, the stakeholders exchanged their views in a heated debate. The Association of European Airlines (AEA) welcomed the opportunity from the Transport and Tourism Committee to share its opinion on this key file. AEA has been in favour of the harmonisation of Flight and Duty Time Limitations, which would ensure upmost safety in European skies.

The proposal of the European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) is the throughput of a lengthy rulemaking procedure involving all actors from National Authorities, airlines, and trade unions. As a result, Europe will continue to have among the strictest regulations and as an acknowledgement, a large majority of the EU member states are ready to adopt it without any further changes.

“AEA believes that EASA submitted a balanced proposal: safety cannot be compromised, therefore airlines are ready to take any necessary steps to ensure safety” said Mr Vincent De Vroey, General Manager Technical and Operations of AEA during the hearing. “The proposal will create one, harmonised set of rules for the common aviation market which will benefit passengers’ safety. We therefore urge the Members of the European Parliament to adopt the proposed regulation without any further delay”.