Pilots at Ryanair are coming under increasing pressure from so-called "pilot fatigue" which is leading some to fall asleep in their cockpits, an RTÉ programme claimed last night. The Prime Time programme also claimed that increasingly tight turnaround times for Ryanair aircraft were contributing to the problem.
However, the company has reacted angrily to the Prime Time programme, describing it as "unbalanced". It said the programme failed to provide any evidence of fatigue among its pilots.
Speaking during a live studio debate last night, chief executive Michael O'Leary said Ryanair pilots, in line with the law, do not fly more than 900 hours per year, and do not have to fly at night. They also get a bank holiday weekend every second weekend. "There is a queue of pilots who want to join Ryanair."
However, Mr O'Leary's comments were rejected by Evan Cullen of the Irish Airline Pilots' Association, who said pilot fatigue was an issue at the airline.
Last night's programme also referred to evidence from a medical expert, Dr Ian Perry, that pilots were frequently reluctant to admit to management that they were suffering from fatigue. Instead it was easier to say they have a "chest infection".
In a statement, the Irish Aviation Authority (IAA) said it carried out "extensive and detailed surveillance on all Irish airlines". "Fatigue has not been cited as a primary or contributory cause to any incident investigated by either the IAA or the Air Accident Investigation Unit in the recent past."