Updated in 2025, the�Commander’s Discretion Guide by ECA�clarifies�this critical safety & flexibility provision.

As we head into another high-pressure summer in European aviation, we, the pilots, stand at the front line of flight safety. Yet we are expected to do more with less – more flights, tighter schedules, fewer buffers – all while battling increasing fatigue. Despite what management expects, we are not the system’s shock absorbers. We are safety professionals. And it’s time to act like it.

Due to extremely busy summer operations, pilots are faced with a number of safety-relevant issues and disruptions. This checklist has been compiled by the European Cockpit Association to keep crew focused on what’s important: safety.
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The Standardised European Rules of the Air (SERA) define the common rules and operational provisions regarding services and procedures in European air navigation. They are therefore applicable to all European operators and their pilots. Commission Implementing Regulations (EU) 2024/403,

As pilots, flight operators, and aviation professionals, we know the responsibility that comes with our roles. Every day, thousands of lives depend on our focus, our decisions, and our commitment to the highest standards of safety. It’s not just a job – it’s a trust.�