New Executive Board Directors, new responsibilities and new challenges - it has been a busy few weeks for ECA! You will read elsewhere in this Cockpit News of changes in the Board - we will need an injection of vigour, given the challenges ahead.

Following the recent entry into force of EU-OPS at national level, and EASA's current drafting of both EASA-OPS and EASA-FCL, responsibility for shaping the creation and amendment of the regulations which govern entry to, and work within our profession is now fully at European level. ECA continues to draw on the resources of the experts in Member Associations across our continent to ensure that the voice of the professional pilot regulated by this legislation is taken into account in their drafting, adoption, and implementation. The recent ECA Conference also considered the clear need to expand our Brussels-based office to enable good coordination of this heavily increased workload.

One of the more important issues for our members in the EU-OPS and EASA-OPS regulations are those which protect them from being forced to operate whilst fatigued. EASA's FTL scientific study has been concluded and the draft final results are with EASA officials. ECA has urged the early publication of these results and full consideration of the recommended changes where they are based on strong medical and scientific evidence. This is an area of activity which will require our close attention, and maybe your support, for many months to come.

ECA has also worked hard to ensure the lack of a European level structure for our Member Associations to negotiate terms and conditions with Trans National Airlines, following the consolidation process currently gathering pace in Europe. Six associations, co-ordinated by ECA, have recently signed agreements to ensure the pilot members of easyJet can be represented fully and fairly. This is another demonstration of the determination of the ECA family (36 members representing 38,200 pilots) to ensure that cockpit crew members are both represented fully in the current incoherent legal situation, and that we vigorously address the need for a coherent one!

My best wishes and thoughts are with all our members over the holiday period - and particularly with those whose company has failed or is in difficulty.