Ryanair does not seem willing to give up its old habits

Whilst a lot has been achieved for Ryanair pilots based in Belgium, we unfortunately cannot say the same for all the countries where Ryanair is based.

This summer saw much industrial unrest, with strikes being organised in UK and Spain and Ryanair management yielding to its old demons: firing of unionsed pilots in Ireland, announcing base closures and job cuts and opening a new subsidiary in Poland, “Buzz”, based on its old-fashioned model of a majority of union-free and self-employed pilots. BeCA/ECA urge Ryanair to stop these unfair practices and set up a genuine social dialogue in all countries where it’s based. You can find more information on ECA website: http://bit.ly/2NuwEd4 & http://bit.ly/2rpAeN6.

Flying above 65, a good idea?

As mentioned in our last edition, EASA published in February 2019 a research project (http://bit.ly/2Q1ekKi) confirming that the age limit for multi-pilot operations should remain 65. However, there is commercial pressure to try and go beyond that age, thanks to the implementation of “mitigating measures”. The idea would be to use simulator check, line checks and peer review to detect performance which is below the standard. However, ECA believes that using simulator checks to assess cognitive age-related risks would lead to unreliable assessments. Moreover, simulator instructors are not qualified medical professionals and are not specialised in age related cognitive functioning. SIM checks are an operational assessment of the professional license, not a medical check of the medical certificate.

To read the full paper, please have a look here: http://bit.ly/2WRFXqG.

Evidence-Based Training: ECA worries about quality of pilot training

While in general ECA endorses EBT and the principle of ‘less checking more training’ a cautious approach to the implementation of EBT is crucial. Implementation of EBT means a paradigm shift and cannot be understood simply as replacement of a sometimes-outdated set of critical events with a new set. Crucially, EBT implementation must have as a goal more effective training programs with associated improvements in operational safety. This paper outlines ECA’s views and concerns on selected proposals developed in a draft European legislation (NPA 2018-07), that – if approved and implemented – could have negative consequences on the quality of future pilot training.

For the full paper, please have look at: http://bit.ly/2NPXewl

ECA, airline and cabin crew organisations joint call for a Social Agenda for Europe

The Single Market focuses on economic freedoms and opportunities, leaving the social aspects and regulations to the Member States, resulting in a lot of differences between countries. These differences have made possible the development of mal-practices in a number of countries. That’s why airlines and air crew associations jointly urge Member States and Europe to act in order to ensure appropriate social standards, application of laws, and a fair level-playing field in Europe’s aviation market. This has to include:

• enforcement of existing EU & national legislation by all Member States;
• effective measures against (bogus) self-employment of crews;
• clarification of current rules and application of the local laws of the country where the crews are based & start/end their duties (operational ‘home base’);
• appropriate legislative changes to the EU legal framework, e.g. to the EU Air Services Regulation (Reg. 1008/2008) and/or Reg. 883/2004 on Social Security Certificates.

Read the full position paper here: http://bit.ly/2qyNlem

Recommendations to pilots in case of fatigue and reporting template

A couple of months ago, ECA published a few concrete recommendations on how pilots should deal with and report fatigue (http://bit.ly/2Q5gysh):

• If you cannot get enough sleep and/or feel unfit to fly, call in unfit and get rested. This is a legal obligation.
• If you get fatigued during the day, preventing you from safely performing your duty, call in fatigued and step down from duty before the next flight. This is also a legal obligation.
• If in doubt about the maximum flight times allowed under EU law, download the ECA Flight Time Limitations calculator (http://bit.ly/2NQFrF7).
• If fatigued – report it! This is your obligation by law. Use your airline’s reporting form and procedure; if not available, use the ECA reporting template here: http://bit.ly/2NsS9ep.
• If your airline’s management exerts pressure on you or your colleagues to fly while fatigued, or threatens disciplinary measures, contact BeCA, and have it reported to your national authority and ECA. If needed, ECA will alert EASA.

Note on Commander’s discretion

The law allows the Commander to increase or reduce daily flight and rest times. Using Commanders Discretion is a complex decision and must be guided by safety considerations. Under no circumstances should you be pressured into using Discretion.