HL Deb 06 February 1996 vol 569 cc113-4

2.44 p.m.

Lord Boyd-Carpenter asked Her Majesty's Government:

Whether they are aware of the anxiety on grounds of safety caused by the proposed extension of airline pilots' flying hours, and what action they are proposing to take.

The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department of Transport (Viscount Goschen)

My Lords, the Government are aware of some concerns that have been expressed about the Joint Aviation Authorities' proposals for aircrew flight and duty time limits. The Civil Aviation Authority believes that these proposals would provide an equivalent level of protection to the present UK rules, and that the high safety standards in the UK would not be compromised by their adoption.

Lord Boyd-Carpenter

My Lords, I thank my noble friend for that reply, which I find very encouraging. Can he confirm what I think he said, that the Civil Aviation Authority in this country has approved of this extension of flying hours?

Viscount Goschen

Yes, my Lords, I can give that assurance. The Civil Aviation Authority has been deeply involved in working out these proposals throughout the whole course of their consideration and is content for them to be adopted.

Lord McIntosh of Haringey

My Lords, in the absence of the noble Lord, Lord Tebbit, the former trade union leader for the airline pilots, I should like to ask this question. Is the noble Viscount aware that the British Air Line Pilots' Association is concerned about these new proposed limits, not so much as regards the limits imposed in a year or a month, but rather the amount of flying that is to be permitted in a single day? Has no consideration been given to the danger of fatigue from excessive flying within a single day?

Viscount Goschen

s: My Lords, in the absence also of the noble Lord, Lord Clinton-Davis, who I understand is the president of the association under consideration, we recognise the anxieties of BALPA. It is a responsible body and it is of course quite right for it to express its concerns. However, one has to view these proposals as a package. It is the firm view of the Civil Aviation Authority that while the proposals are more restrictive in some areas, they are perhaps less restrictive in others and they provide a comparable level of protection. There are different levels, for instance, of rest periods, not just duty times. As the noble Lord has said, there are indeed more restrictive limits as regards annual duty hours. Taken together, it is the firm view of the expert authority that has been involved in this matter, the Civil Aviation Authority, that safety standards will not be compromised by the adoption of these proposals.

Lord McIntosh of Haringey

My Lords, if the House will allow me to return to this matter, my anxiety was specific and concerned the amount of flying time within a single day. That is what I think the flying public, rather than the airline pilots, will be concerned about. There will be concern about the issue of fatigue and the problem of pilots having to fly for too many hours in a day. Has medical opinion been sought as regards the risks involved in such a change?

Viscount Goschen

Yes, my Lords. A considerable amount of medical opinion has been sought in producing these proposals. The daily limits are not the be-all and end-all of the story. One must also consider rest periods, and rest periods when pilots have crossed time zones. It is the case that operators can schedule slightly longer duties under the JAA proposals, although when the discretion currently available to aircraft commanders is taken into account, the absolute daily limits are broadly similar. I believe that addresses the specific and detailed question of the noble Lord. One should also take into account the fact that the CAA—as it does now—will monitor extremely carefully the implementation of these proposals which depend on proper, responsible rostering by responsible operators. That is the key to ensuring that fatigue is not a problem.