Seán Kenny (Dublin North East, Labour) | Oireachtas source

Some months ago we had IALPA, the Irish Airline Pilots Association, before the committee during which it told us at great length the difficulties pilots face in the competitive airline business. It suggested a cap should be placed on the 22 hour stand-by, particularly for the short call stand-by. IALPA’s medical expert regarded ten hours as the safe maximum period but EASA allow between 11 and 12.5 hours.

It also raised the issue of multiple take-offs, long working days and fatigue. It said most airline accidents happen during landing or take-off and the long hours and fatigue could be a factor. I represent a constituency near an airport and aviation accidents are a worry for the community as well as the pilots.

The question of the home base was raised. In most occupations, a person is deployed at a headquarters, depot, station, hospital and so on and, therefore, he or she has a permanent base but I understand some airlines are changing bases from week to week and a pilot based in Dublin this week could be told his home base in Krakow next week and he or she must go there at his or her expense. They do not receive additional remuneration to defray the cost of overnight accommodation and so on. This is a particular difficulty for pilots on the lower rungs of the salary scale. It is an additional cost for them and it needs to be examined.

Pilots have also raised the 1,000 hours per year issue and they want it examined as well.