I was using the BBC news app and was surprised to see this as their no. #3 story.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-21628746
One of the ANZ pilots on duty flying between LHR and LAX feel into a ‘deep sleep’ twice while flying over the Atlantic in 2011. The pilot in question filed a voluntary fatigue report to the airline citing a poor night’s sleep the night before.
It’s certainly no secret pilots fall asleep in the cockpit, 1/5 of BALPA pilots suffer from fatigue at least once a week.
In January it was revealed that a Transavia pilot fell asleep at the controls while the captain was using the lavatory. The captain was then unable to raise a response from the co-pilot as he tried to renter the flight deck.
These instances will only become more frequent when the EU’s controversial new crew regulations are brought forward.
http://m.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-19781688
Also, the question needs to be asked what crews are getting up to on layovers? It’s all very well giving your crew 2-3 days off at a hotel (as I am aware many long haul carriers do), but if they hit the town and get late nights. What’s the point? (But then I guess it’s up to the senior captains to rein in on and report this sort of behaviour, if they don’t they’re not really doing their job)
By: Deano - 1st March 2013 at 17:08
It is more common than one would care to imagine. The laws are ludicrous, if you are at home you have to have a minimum 12hrs rest between duties, if your preceding duty was more than 12hrs then you have to have at least the same amount of time off before starting again, yet when you are away from base in a hotel this rest can be reduced to 11hrs. So you are in an unusual environment, a bed that’s not your own, and usually noisy hotels. I was in Brussels two nights ago, and my room was separated from the one next door by a locked door. The chap in that room snored loudly from 9pm, right through the night until stupid o’clock. I then had to get up and go and fly 5 sectors and do a 12hr duty. Suffice to say today I cannot keep my eyes open.
By: AlanR - 1st March 2013 at 16:48
It probably happens more often than air crews or airlines like to admit.
An Air Ferry crew of a DC-4 operating out of Manston back in the 60’s
both fell asleep at the controls.
There are stricter controls on breaks now though.
By: Arabella-Cox - 1st March 2013 at 16:46
The BBC was a little slow on the uptake with this. It was in the NZ Herald a few days ago.
I feel very sorry for the pilot having to change rooms three times because of faulty air conditioning. If you are a hotel that accommodates long-haul pilots on lay-overs, you really need to ensure they get a good night’s sleep, don’t you?
By: Deano - 1st March 2013 at 15:52
Also, the question needs to be asked what crews are getting up to on layovers? It’s all very well giving your crew 2-3 days off at a hotel (as I am aware many long haul carriers do), but if they hit the town and get late nights. What’s the point? (But then I guess it’s up to the senior captains to rein in on and report this sort of behaviour, if they don’t they’re not really doing their job)
What do you mean what are crews getting up to on layovers? That’s rather a generalising statement. They can actually do as they please when they are off duty. You make it sound like crews are living it up every time they stay anywhere away from base, the reality is quite different.
It’s actually nothing to do with the “senior captains” either. The only thing that the captains can do is ensure his crew are “fit to fly” on the day. What goes on outside of report time is a) nothing to do with the captain, and b) up to the individual to police for themselves. We’re all adults, I don’t need some jumped up fat wallet captain to tell me what to do when off duty, likewise it isn’t my job to police my crew outside of duty hours.
Fatigue is actually cumulative, it creeps up on you. A few dodgy nights out off duty does not cause fatigue. What causes fatigue is a litany of early shifts, long days, minimum rest periods between duties, different time zones, body clock changes, lates, earlies and a whole wrath of “cumulative” issues.
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March 1, 2013 at 2:54 pm