IRISH airline pilots are flying longer hours than recommended by NASA, the US space agency, according to Capt Jim Duggan of the Irish Air Line Pilots' Association. NASA has produced "objective evidence" that pilots should fly for no more than 10 hours at a time, he says.
Irish pilots are routinely rostered on 14 hour shifts which may be extended by two hours at a captain's discretion.
The International Federation of Air Line Pilots' Associations, which meets in Dublin tomorrow is expected to adopt a motion that its members do not fly more than 10 hours in a single rostering. Airline managements will oppose this because of the implications for their costs, according to Capt Duggan, but the NASA evidence is that current flying hours cause fatigue which, in turn, has implications for the safe operation of an aircraft.
The association's annual conference will be opened by the President, Mrs Robinson.