§ 108. Mr. Shepherdasked the Minister of Aviation, if he is aware that the average weekly flying hours of pilots working for the British Overseas Airways Corporation are roughly two-thirds of those of pilots working for American airlines; and if he will amend his regulations so as to allow more flying hours per week.
§ Mr. Roy JenkinsThe average weekly flying hours of B.O.A.C. pilots are generally somewhat less than those of their American counterparts, but this is not because of a difference in the regulations on permitted flying hours. These regulations are aimed at preventing excess fatigue on the part of flight crew to a point where safety could be affected, and I have no intention of sanctioning any increase. It is a function of B.O.A.C.'s management to determine, within the statutory limitations, the hours of duty, flying periods, and rest periods in the light of a number of factors, including the nature of the routes.