WRITTEN QUESTION E-2036/02 by Erik Meijer (GUE/NGL) to the Commission. Accusation that low-cost airlines are cutting costs by circumventing safety regulations.
Date: 2002-07-10
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: air safety, air traffic control, air transport, crew, transport company, transport regulations, working conditions

C 309 E/190

Official Journal of the European Communities

EN

12.12.2002

(2002/C 309 E/218)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2036/02

by Erik Meijer (GUE/NGL) to the Commission

(10 July 2002)

Subject: Accusation that low-cost airlines are cutting costs by circumventing safety regulations

Is the Commission aware of the report by the independent complaints commission Chirp, referred to
1.
in the British newspaper The Times, to the effect that pilots employed by unnamed low-cost airlines are
under pressure to stay within their tight schedules by reacting aggressively to instructions by air-traffic
controllers, approaching airports at excessively high speeds, taking turns at tighter angles than those
prescribed and flying over forbidden zones, including residential areas?

2.
Can the Commission confirm (cid:1) inter alia on the basis of Eurocontrol’s experience (cid:1) that dangerous
behaviour of this kind has indeed occurred and that it is practised by low-cost airline operators in
particular?

3. What are the safety implications of the fact that the low-cost airlines keep their aircraft in the air for
eleven hours per day as opposed to the eight hours a day practised by the national airlines?

4. What possibilities exist at present of banning airline operators guilty of the behaviour referred to in
points 1 to 3 from flying over European Union territory?

How does the Commission propose to provide better protection for travellers and people living near

5.
airports against the dangers inherent in making safety subordinate to an exaggerated desire to cut costs?

Source: De Volkskrant of 19 June 2002.

Answer given by Mrs de Palacio on behalf of the Commission

(22 August 2002)

The Commission does not routinely receive copies of reports made under the United Kingdom
1.
Confidential Human Factors Incident Reporting Programme (CHIRP). Pilots of aircraft flying under air
traffic control are obliged to fly in accordance with certain rules which apply in such circumstances.
Action will be taken by air traffic control organisations when pilots breach these rules; especially when the
breach leads to a reduction in safety values.

2.
Any instances of poor discipline by pilots flying under air traffic control are dealt with directly by the
relevant air traffic control organisation in consultation with the airline company which employs the pilot
and the national regulatory authority, or authorities, which certificates the airline and licences the pilot.
For the time being, the Commission has not received any evidence that low-cost carriers are any differently
behaved than others.

There are no safety implications in aircraft being utilised for more hours in any given period, as long

3.
as all safety measures are fully observed.

4. When a company flouts safety regulations their national aviation safety regulator will have to
investigate and may decide to suspend or withdraw their certificate to operate.

5.
The Commission has successfully proposed the establishment of the European Aviation Safety
Agency. The principal objective of the Agency is to establish and maintain a high uniform level of civil
aviation safety in Europe.