Gaps in health and safety requirements as directly applicable to aircrew onboard aircraft are putting pilots’ health and wellbeing at risk, the British Airline Pilots’ Association (BALPA) will tell Members of Parliament and Peers today (26 February), at the All-Party Parliamentary Group on Occupational Safety and Health.

Speaking to MPs, including those representing constituencies where there are airports or other aviation industry presence, BALPA’s General Secretary Amy Leversidge will highlight the fact that while civil aviation requirements are rightly comprehensive to ensure flight safety, they are not similarly robust to protect the health and wellbeing of pilots.

Amy Leversidge said:

“Pilots, like all other workers, deserve safe operational environments that do not negatively affect their health. They can face challenging rosters, air conditioning that doesn’t work when the aircraft is on the ground, fumes entering the cabin and toilets that are out of order, or non-existent. This can lead to stress and fatigue, which is forcing pilots to reduce their hours or even cut short their careers to protect their health.”

While the ‘Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974’ and related legislation is detailed and robust, the applicable legislation for crew members on board a civil aircraft, ‘The Civil Aviation (Working Time) Regulations 2004’ is not similarly comprehensive.

Amy Leversidge said:

“Gaps in health and safety requirements that specifically cover pilots need filling, and existing requirements strengthened, so they receive the same level of protection that other workers take for granted.”