October 4th, 2009, 05:21
Emirates Airline pilots warned authorities about fatigue problems three months before a near-fatal accident at an Australian airport (Melbourne Airport). The pilots told air safety regulators in the US, Australia and Europe that Emirates was putting commercial considerations ahead of safety. Documents described the pilots' concern with crew rest facilities, duty hours calculation and their belief management was putting commercial considerations ahead of safety.
"Crews cannot get proper in-flight rest and suffer from fatigue and micro-sleep during the approach and landing phases on the Airbus A380 and on the A340-300," the December 21, 2008 complaint, lodged by a third party on behalf of the pilots, said. "There has been continuous pressure from the commercial department ... flight safety is becoming increasingly impaired." But none of the safety regulators - including Australia's Civil Aviation Safety Authority - could investigate the complaints because international aviation regulations prevent broad-ranging audits of foreign airlines.
"Crews cannot get proper in-flight rest and suffer from fatigue and micro-sleep during the approach and landing phases on the Airbus A380 and on the A340-300," the December 21, 2008 complaint, lodged by a third party on behalf of the pilots, said. "There has been continuous pressure from the commercial department ... flight safety is becoming increasingly impaired." But none of the safety regulators - including Australia's Civil Aviation Safety Authority - could investigate the complaints because international aviation regulations prevent broad-ranging audits of foreign airlines.