§ Mr. Nigel JonesTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport (1) what assessment he has made of the potential impact of proposals under consideration by the Council of Ministers to increase the limits on flying hours; [121846]
(2) what assessment he has made of the effects of pilot fatigue on aircraft accidents. [121847]
§ Mr. McNultyThe Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) has reviewed the European Parliament's proposed flight time limitations (FTL) requirements. They advise me that, while the requirements are not totally acceptable, with suitable amendment they could form a baseline European FTL requirement which could be supplemented by additional requirements in each member state. We recognise the need for FTL requirements to be harmonised at a European level and should the proposal come before the Council we will work constructively with other member states to ensure that it is appropriately amended. I can assure the hon. Gentleman that we will not endorse the proposal if any of the limits are significantly different to those set by the CAA in CAP 371, which are in line with scientific advice that the CAA has received over the years.
The CAA reviews all fatal accidents to large aircraft, both within the UK and abroad. Causal factors, contributory factors and consequences are analysed. In analysis of over 900 fatal accidents, crew fatigue has been identified as a possible secondary causal factor in 20 cases. None of these involved a UK registered or operated aircraft.