Written answers

Tuesday, 18 September 2012

Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport

Air Services Provision

Photo of Terence FlanaganTerence Flanagan (Dublin North East, Fine Gael)
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To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if his attention has been drawn to concerns that the European Aviation Safety Agency is advocating longer working / flying hours limits for pilots and crew in the development of new legislation and in doing so is ignoring scientific research it had commissioned, the findings of which were published in the Moebus Report in January 2009, which pointed to tightening the limits on the amount of time a pilot should be able to fly; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39143/12]

Photo of Leo VaradkarLeo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael)
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The Deputy's question relates to the flight time limitations of air crews.

The current EU rules on Flight Time Limitations for commercial air transport operations are in place since July 2008 and were agreed following difficult negotiations in the EU Council and Parliament.  Under EU Regulations, the European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) is now charged with developing detailed technical rules for all aspects of aircraft operations including Flight Time Limitations for air crew.  Under national law giving effect to these Regulations, the Irish Aviation Authority is the competent authority in the State for the purposes of these Regulations and the Authority also advises me on all aspects of aviation safety and has briefed my Department on the draft Regulation that has now been published by the EASA proposing replacement of the existing rules with a new Flight Time Limitations regime.

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