NEWS RELEASE
From the office of the Green MEPs


June 3rd, 2004

TIRED PILOTS WARN OF LOOMING AVIATION DISASTER

DOUBLE STANDARDS OVER FLIGHT TIMES RISK AIR SAFETY, MEP WARNS

GOVERNMENT backed plans to relax restrictions on the number of hours pilots can fly risk causing an aviation disaster, London Euro-MP Jean Lambert has warned.

The capital's Green Party MEP made her comments after she was contacted by pilots who are deeply concerned about their own health and the safety of their passengers.

Members of the British Airline Pilots Association (BALPA) say they are extremely worried at the potential change to laws governing the amount of hours pilots can work and the rest periods needed between flights - and have asked MEPs to ask the Government to reconsider.

BALPA and its counterpart organisations throughout the EU believe the current proposals, which would relax these rules, could seriously undermine air safety.

Currently flight time is based on the scientific advice given by the Civil Aviation Authority and the American Federal Aviation Authority.

Jean Lambert is calling on Member States to listen to those who know best. " Tiredness can affect concentration in a similar way to taking alcohol or drugs. Would you want your aircraft landed by someone in this state? Any change to the status of flight times must be backed by legitimate
scientific evidence and not by political or commercial pressure.

"The government's hypocrisy is staggering. On one hand we are being assured that our airlines are safe while on the other we are being put at risk through revision of flight time laws."

There are also worries that safety is not only being compromised in the air. This sector has seen a liberalisation the ground so that handling contracts are being to the cheapest service provider, saving money on training and on security checks and equipment.

"All of our transport sectors are facing similar risks which could have potentially disastrous consequences," added Mrs Lambert, a member of the European Parliament's Employment and Social Affairs Committee.

"This is yet another example of why, without meaningful worker consultation, flexible employment will reduce the quality of our services and bring little improvement to the employee's work/life balance."

The Greens are the only political group objecting to the change in flight times which could get the go ahead when revised proposals go before the Council of Ministers on June 10th.


ENDS

For more information please contact Ben or Katy on 020 7407 6280, 07973 823358 or at press@greenmeps.org.uk