WRITTEN QUESTION E-3487/00 by María Sornosa Martínez (PSE) to the Commission. Official approval of fire-fighting helicopters.
Date: 2000-11-10
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: Spain, air safety, crew, fire protection, helicopter, infringement of EU law, labour law, legal working time, migrant worker, restriction on competition, transport regulations, transport safety, working conditions

3.7.2001

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

C 187 E/9

(2001/C 187 E/009)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-3487/00

by Mar(cid:237)a Sornosa Mart(cid:237)nez (PSE) to the Commission

(10 November 2000)

Subject: Official approval of fire-fighting helicopters

In Spain, helicopters from former Eastern European army stocks are being used to put out forest fires, and
the contracts are being extended to non-authorised uses such as reconnoitring, first aid, life-saving and
transporting injured persons. The use of these helicopters, which are banned in the rest of the European
Union because they are considered unsafe, was allowed in Spain on condition that their use was merely
temporary, although it has been going on since it began in 1989. The crews of these helicopters (many of
them foreign workers) work interminably long hours and their salary conditions fall far short of what is
laid down in Spanish law. The use of these inadequate machines, and the poor working conditions of their
crews mean that between 1990 and 1997, the accident rate has been 17,5 accidents per 100 flying hours;
worse still, most of these accidents have not been investigated.

Having regard to the provisions of:

(cid:129) Regulation (EEC) No 3922/91 (1) on the harmonisation of technical requirements and administrative

procedures in the field of civil aviation,

(cid:129) the Joint Aviation Requirements (JAR) of the Joint Aviation Authorities,

(cid:129) Directive 89/655/EEC (2) concerning the minimum health and safety requirements for the use of work
equipment by workers at work, Article 3(1) whereof stipulates that (cid:145)the employer shall take the
measures necessary to ensure that the work equipment made available to workers ((cid:133)) is suitable for
the work to be carried out ((cid:133)) and may be used by workers without impairment to their safety or
health(cid:146),

(cid:129) Directive 94/56/EC (3) establishing the fundamental principles governing the investigation of civil
aviation accidents and incidents, which lays down that the causes of accidents must be investigated
within one year,

does the Commission not believe that given the increasing number of accidents, Community legislation is
in order to prevent Member States using
required on the authorisation of
machines which should have been disqualified on safety grounds?

fire-fighting helicopters,

Does the Commission believe that the case described above comes under the provisions of Directive 89/
655/EEC?

What measures does the Commission intend to take in this instance with regard to the clear infringement
of Directive 94/56/EC, given that the accidents which have taken place have not been investigated?

(1) OJ L 373, 31.12.1991, p. 4.
(2) OJ L 393, 30.12.1989, p. 13.
(3) OJ L 319, 12.12.1994, p. 14.

(2001/C 187 E/010)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-3488/00

by Mar(cid:237)a Sornosa Mart(cid:237)nez (PSE) to the Commission

(10 November 2000)

Subject: Spanish fire-fighting helicopters and failure to meet Community labour law

In Spain, helicopters from former Eastern European army stocks are being used to put out forest fires, and
the contracts are being extended to non-authorised uses such as reconnoitring, first aid, life-saving and
transporting injured persons.