FATIGUE DOESN’T FLY: Support Rest & Fatigue Regulations for Cabin Crew
July 16, 2024
Cabin crew members are the backbone of aviation safety. Yet, despite their crucial role, they are denied the same rest and fatigue regulations that protect pilots. It’s time to change that.
Across the Commonwealth, from Sierra Leone to Bangladesh and the United Kingdom, Flight Time Limitations (FTLs) are in place to safeguard cabin crew. These regulations ensure that crew members are well-rested and alert, ready to perform their duties safely. Unfortunately, Australia has lagged behind. Despite years of advocacy and compelling evidence highlighting the severe health impacts of fatigue, the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) has yet to implement these essential regulations.
Why is this important?
Fatigue is an invisible but deadly threat. Teri O’Toole, Federal Secretary of the FAAA, aptly states, “Fatigue is the asbestos of aviation; invisible but deadly. We must act now to protect our cabin crew and, by extension, our passengers.”
Cabin crew are responsible for a wide range of safety-critical tasks, from first aid and CPR to security vigilance and passenger management. As Kris Major, EASA Flight Time Limitations Trainer, explains, “That performance (on a daily basis) is affected by fatigue. The first two abilities to degrade when fatigued are decision making and communication.”
The relentless schedules many cabin crew endure are unsustainable. Gareth Uren, Assistant Federal Secretary (Domestic) of the FAAA, shares, “I am aware of members at some airlines commonly working five or six days in a row with four sectors (flights) each day. By the end of the week, your body feels completely drained, and it’s hard to stay alert and focused.”
We stand in solidarity with our cabin crew. It’s time for CASA to recognise the critical need for FTLs and implement fair and necessary regulations that cabin crew all over the world benefit from.
Join the Fight
We urge you to support this vital campaign.
Visit https://fatiguedoesntfly.com.au and sign the petition. Together, we can ensure that our cabin crew receive the protections they deserve, enhancing safety for everyone in the skies.
Tags: Australia, FAAA, fatigue, flight time limitations, FTL, solidarity