The European Cockpit Association (ECA) and flight time limitations (FTL) specialists say the Simpson report on aircrew duty and rest times to be debated by the European Parliament's Transport Commission this week is biased in favour of business, not safety. The ECA says that "the point of view of the scientific and medical community has been deliberately ignored". The Simpson report incorporates proposals to harmonise civil aviation technical requirements and administrative procedures in European Union states. Scientists from the European Committee for Aircrew Scheduling and Safety back the ECA, stating that the document "does not provide an acceptable basis for an FTL scheme". They say flight duty periods as long as 12h, starting at any time of night, or 14h from 06:00, are too high "given the known fatiguing effect of early starts".
Source: Flight International
