The British Airline Pilots' Association (BALPA) has warned that the Colgan disaster on 12th February 2009 when 50 were killed in an airliner which crash-landed at Buffalo, USA, could happen here in the UK if EU rules on pilot fatigue are allowed to proceed as planned.

'A major cause of Colgan, investigations showed, was pilot fatigue,' said Jim McAuslan, General Secretary of BALPA. 'And today, on the second anniversary of that horrific crash, we want to warn British passengers, and residents around our major airports, that the same thing could happen here because of EU moves to increase pilot hours that will increase fatigue and lower safety standards .'

The Colgan disaster was the catalyst for the United States Government to restrict pilot hours.

'But now we see the EU wanting to go in the opposite direction,' Jim McAuslan added. 'We say, and indeed pilots across Europe are saying that the EU proposals will put people's lives at risk.'

The EU proposals would increase pilot hours beyond what Britain's own Civil Aviation Authority and scientific research shows is safe.

Captain Mark Searle, BALPA Chairman, said: 'As an example of these changes a pilot could wake up at 04:15 and spend up to 1 hour 30 minutes commuting to an airport for a check-in at 05:45. He/she will be expected to work a duty of up to 13 hours 55 minutes. Then, after a lengthy day in the busy UK skies, they are expected to be at their most alert to focus on the critical approach and landing phase of the flight.

'Britain has the best air safety record in the world, because our regulations are based on science. The EU has chosen to set aside the science (as well as years of operational experience) in drafting its proposals.'

BALPA's warning is directed not only to passengers but to residents around Britain's airports. Take-off and landing are the most critical parts of a flight and pilots cannot afford to be tired or worst still, suffering from fatigue, during these essential stages.

'The Colgan crash was an aircraft making an approach to land,' Jim McAuslan said. 'The pilots were fatigued and people in the plane and on the ground perished. What happened at Buffalo is not something we want to see replicated at Manchester, Heathrow, Birmingham or anywhere else.'

The EU proposals, which would force the UK to jettison its own rigorous safety standards, can only come in if they are approved by the Council of Ministers, on which the UK has a seat.

'That is why we urge the public to join us in putting pressure on MPs and Ministers. They have got to stand up for Britain and Britain's safety standards.'