EU pilots, cabin crew call for fatigue protection

[January 22, 2013]  BRUSSELS (AP) -- Pilot and cabin crew organizations are calling for planned European Union legislation to include better protection against in-flight fatigue.

Pilots and crew members on Tuesday staged demonstrations in several European airports and handed over petitions to authorities, saying that proposals to harmonize EU legislation would force them to fly excessive hours and threaten the safety of passengers.

They say that pilots could be asked to fly for over 12 hours, though scientists claim safety is significantly endangered because of fatigue after 10 hours.

The Association of European Airlines counters that the current proposal of the European Aviation and Safety Agency would make sure the EU would have one of the strictest rules in the world.

New EU legislation is expected later this year.

[Associated Press]

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