Sir - At last an accident investigation board, the UK AAIB, has had the courage and professionalism to speak its true mind. The crash of the Boeing 737 freighter at Coventry in December 1994 was contributed to by the likely fatigue of the crew. Crew members, had been on duty for over 10h, starting at midnight and were attempting a fifth landing, probably after little real sleep. It is not surprising they were fatigued.
It is accepted by the accident investigating authorities that, ultimately, the weakest link in the chain of aviation safety is the human one. Why then is the Joint Aviation Authorities (JAA) proposing to further weaken that link significantly with its flight-time limitation scheme? Why are the national authorities not opposing the JAA proposals? Could it be that, because aircraft can fly far greater distances than ever before, crews have to work longer hours? We shape the things we build and thereby they shape us. Members of the JAA, join the real world. If you do not, you will be seen not as custodians, of professionalism and safety, but as puppets having their strings pulled by the commercial managers of the airlines.
Source: Flight International
