The Earl of Munsterasked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether they will ensure that any Europe-wide agreement concerning flight safety is required by a constitutional body under the auspices of either individual European parliaments, the European Commission or Her Majesty's Government.
§ Viscount GoschenEuropean aviation safety standards are agreed by the Joint Aviation Authorities (JAA), of which the UK is an active member. The JAA is an associate body of the European Civil Aviation Conference (ECAC) and establishes common safety standards for its members by the adoption of agreed Joint Aviation Requirements (JARs). The EC has recognised that technical requirements relating to the safety of aircraft and their operation should be harmonised on the basis of these JARs. The EC therefore requires the national aviation authorities of all member states to be members of the JAA.
The Earl of Munsterasked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether they will ensure that flight safety standards are not comprised by agreeing to the European Joint Aviation Authorities' proposals for airline/aircraft safety.
§ Viscount GoschenThe UK is represented by the Civil Aviation Authority on the Joint Aviation Authorities' (JAA) technical committees which draw up proposed aviation safety requirements. The authority will not agree to proposals which would compromise aviation safety in the UK.
The Earl of Munsterasked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether they will ensure flight crew are fully rested according to Civil Aviation Authority regulations.
§ Viscount GoschenThe Civil Aviation Authority will only approve aircraft operators' flight and duty time limitation schemes if they comply with their guidance on the avoidance of fatigue.