European Pilots

Startpagina
België
Brussels
European Pilots

We are the voice of European pilots

08/09/2025

Fatigue often creeps in subtly and by the time it’s obvious, it may already be impacting your performance.

So how can you spot the early signs?

A fellow pilot shared the key warning signals that can reveal fatigue before it takes over.

And beyond self-checks, there’s a tool to help:
The Karolinska Sleepiness Scale (KSS) — from 1 (extremely alert) to 9 (fighting sleep)

- A score of 7 or higher means you’re too tired to fly safely -

🛫 Don’t brush it off. Report it. Step down if needed.

👉 Check our updated Fatigue Reporting Toolkit (link in bio).

What’s the first sign of fatigue you usually notice?

06/09/2025

This is what happens behind closed cockpit doors.
European pilots told us all.

Straight out of the Social Rating 2024, these quotes from pilots flying for major European airlines reveal a troubling pattern: pressure, retaliation, and disregard for safety, all to keep schedules running.

— What is Commander’s Discretion? —

It’s a rule that allows pilots to extend their legally allowed maximum flight time (FTLs) – but only in exceptional cases like a sudden delay or emergency after reporting for duty.

EU law sets a strict limit: pilots can normally fly up to 13 hours per day. CD allows adding 2 extra hours, but only if it’s safe and truly necessary.

The problem?
Some airlines are pressuring pilots to use CD routinely, turning a last-resort safety rule into a regular scheduling trick. That’s not what it was meant for and it’s not safe.

03/09/2025

Big aviation news just landed in The Guardian!

The latest EASA research confirms what we’ve been saying all along: one pilot in the cockpit is NOT as safe as two.

ECA has campaigned against single-pilot operations for years, reaching thousands of passengers and aircrew. This is an important step forward, but the work isn’t done: we remain vigilant, engaged with regulators, and committed to making sure passenger safety is never sacrificed for commercial convenience.

👉 Read the full Guardian article: check our bio, or comment “2PILOTS” and we’ll send it straight to your inbox.

02/09/2025

Digital apps can support pilots & crew, but your data must remain yours.

From health monitoring to wellbeing tools, new technologies promise support. But without clear standards, protections, and the right to opt out, they risk turning into tools of surveillance instead of safety.

As ECA President Tanja Harter reminds us: “Flight crews need to be mindful of the possible implications as well as the use that is made with their data.”

👉 Read our full position paper. Link in our bio and stories

25/08/2025

AI is transforming aviation, but can it ever replace human intuition, trust, and creativity?

This week, the EASA Artificial Intelligence Conference brings the industry together to discuss the future of AI in aviation.

At ECA, we have prepared a Position Paper that dives into how AI should be developed, used, and regulated, ensuring safety, trust, and the irreplaceable role of pilots remain at the center.

Coming soon.

👉 What do you think: Where should we draw the line between human skills and AI in the cockpit?

Let us know in the comments section!

21/08/2025

Two pilots and one mission: safer skies.

In aviation, redundancy isn’t optional, it’s ESSENCIAL.

That’s why we fly with two trained, alert, and collaborative pilots in the flight desk.

From high-pressure decisions to mid-flight failures, their teamwork is what keeps aviation one of the safest industries in the world.

Learn more and join the movement at OneMeansNone.eu

20/08/2025

How do we stop airlines from stretching safety to the breaking point?

Commander’s Discretion was built for the unexpected, not as a tool to patch poor planning.

When it’s misused, it pushes pilots beyond safe limits.
It’s time to reclaim it for what it really is: a safeguard, not a shortcut.

✈

13/08/2025

✈️ How do we stop airlines from abusing Commander’s Discretion?

Here’s how 👇

1️⃣ Say NO — If it’s a clear misuse, don’t accept it.

2️⃣ Know your rights — Discretion is voluntary, not mandatory.

3️⃣ Report pressure to use Discretion — To your national authority, or if you don’t trust them, report directly to EASA via the Confidential Safety Reporting (CSR) tool

4️⃣ Talk about it — Open conversations break the pressure and the stigma.

11/08/2025

As a licensed pilot, you are legally obligated to report fatigue.
Whether it’s a one-time incident or a systemic issue, speak up.

To support you in fulfilling your reporting obligation, ECA has updated our Fatigue Reporting Toolkit with tips on the DOs & DON’Ts when filling in a report. Only a well-written report will have an impact and change things.

👉 Click the link in our bio to access helpful materials for fatigue reporting.

08/08/2025

Pilots, take note.
You do NOT need to justify why you didn’t use Commander’s Discretion.

We’re aware some operators are pressuring crews to explain why they didn’t extend their FDP — but that’s not required.

✅ We checked with EASA.
✅ No report or justification is needed if you don’t use Commander’s Discretion.
✅ It’s your call — not a company expectation.

Your discretion is exactly that: yours.

01/08/2025

Flying over Europe and saw a NOTAM about contrail prevention?

Contrails trap heat and contribute to global warming. Scientists are testing models that predict where they’ll form, but they need real-world data.

If ATC requests a flight level change, it might be part of the trial. 📡

Your help matters! as long as it’s safe, you’re contributing to climate-friendly aviation 🌍

31/07/2025

A pilot asked: My airline’s OM says the commander will assess the crew’s fitness to extend, not consult them all. Is this right?

Our FTL Expert answers in this video

Adres

Rue D'Arlon 50
Brussels
1000

Telefoon

0032 2 705 32 93

Website

http://www.eurocockpit.eu/, http://www.eppsi.eu/, http://www.becomingapilot.eu/

Meldingen

Wees de eerste die het weet en laat ons u een e-mail sturen wanneer European Pilots nieuws en promoties plaatst. Uw e-mailadres wordt niet voor andere doeleinden gebruikt en u kunt zich op elk gewenst moment afmelden.

Wilt u dat uw praktijk hét hoogst genoteerde Kliniek in Brussels wordt?