Oireachtas Committee warned that Sligo Search and Rescue face “unfair and unsafe” working-time practices next year

Both the Transport Minister and the Irish Aviation Authority are facing pressure to change the use of factoring in the Coast Guard helicopter service. Yesterday, a Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport heard that Search and Rescue aircrew in Sligo face “unfair and unsafe” working-time practices next year unless there is such intervention. Under the new working model, crews must remain on site for 24-hour duty periods. But the Irish Aviation Authority continues to permit operators to factor hours - a practice that records significantly fewer hours than those actually worked. As a result, full 24-hour shifts may be recorded as little as 16.5 hours. Fórsa assistant general secretary Eugene Gargan says can and should influence things for the better: