Monday, May 25, 2015
Serbian pilots have voiced their dissatisfaction with new rules on maximum flight times adopted by parliament last Thursday as part of wider changes to the country’s Air Transport Law. According to the Independent Union of Serbian Pilots, pilots are now expected to work for a maximum of 190 hours over 28 days, up from the previously regulated 160 hours for over thirty days. As a result, pilots will work more than the forty hours per week prescribed by the country’s Labour Law. The union has urged the Minister for Construction, Transport and Infrastructure, Zorana Mihajlović, to revert these changes in order to protect the safety of Air Serbia’s passengers and crew. The Ministry maintains the law is in line with European Union regulations and recommendations from the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO).

Comments
Whole three years of studying? My heart is broken!
How about doctors for instance? Mimimum of six years os studying, constant need for updates, night work, shift work, weekend work...Human life responsiblity...
And in Serbia this is one quarter of doctors income...
Trust me, not everyone makes those figures you all talk about. In India you have people working for peanuts, but do you think Indian aviation pays pilots (foreign or local) peanuts too?? Or in some African state?? I know for the fact they don't.
The duty limits are probably a rarity in Europe or elsewhere in the world, but so what? LH has striked over 10 times last year because of their pension (which is also a bit of a rarity, but I still support them, and don't think they are a spoiled bunch. They sure deserve it!
If you haven't been in the front seat of an airliner, you absolutely have no clue what it take to get there and what it takes to preserve your profession.
It's in the interest of all of us to carry your (and our) family safely while not being fatigued and consonantly under outside pressures. We have enough internal ones we face every day at work. But that is part of the job.
Even USA is moving forward and in the right direction when it comes to their fatigue and duty rules.
We'll take you anonymous advice and apply for a job at GSP or Zeleznice Srbije! :) What are you credentials for this recommendation?
Last year throughout Europe there was campaign against 13 hours daily limit, as it was proven by doctors that it has negative impact on overall crew concentration during most critical phases ie.during approach to land and in case of missed approach and preparation for new approach. Just for information, truckers have 8 working hours daily limit with a 2 days per week off, as a European regulation. Flight crew do not have 2 days off per week. Also there used to be in regulation that 2 nights in a row are not allowed, however that part vanished some time ago, so 2 or 3 nights in a row followed by couple of early flights are not a rarity. Just to be clear, it is possible that one can be planned to fly twice in a same day with a 13 hours rest in between. (whatever happened with 8 hours of work, 8 hours of sleep and 8 hours of private time). Also I have to state that no pills are allowed, whatsoever. For staying awake, fighting flu, or anything else.
I'm not sure that anyone would be happy if pilots would have smaller wages, except for 'neibour with dead cow'. You should know that domestic pilots are paying taxes too, so if all of them would leave, state would stay without that money, and instead it would have to hire foreign pilots for much much much bugger paycheck, and would stay without tax anyway, but that is not a big deal.
What my point is that those jealous neibours really do not know really nothing about aviation. Wish they could spent a week in a cockpit doing nothing, just to feel the heat in a 4 square meters room.
I know You know, but I have to mention so You could realise it: flight crew can not take brake in the middle of the flight time, they can not call home anytime they want, there are no weekends nor state or religious celebrations, there are no birthdays, kids celebrations or New Years. There are no evenings, mornings or 'sorry I'm late, my phone didn't ring'.
But there are 3 (or more) annual proficiency checks, annual medical check (ones career and family depends on that), constant learning and knowledge improvents as new technologies and regulations are constantly updated, and YES there is a hefty paycheck. And YES I want to work less for more, don't You? And I want to work in my country, and I do not want to go abroad. And what's it to YOU if pilots are fighting for better work conditions and in the interest of safety?
Eu regulations are brutally protruding in to safety for sake of money.
The story goes on and on but I don't have any more time as I have to go to put my kids to slep and go to work.