Moderators: jsumali2, richierich, ua900, PanAm_DC10, hOMSaR
Quoting Bh4007 (Thread starter): "Balpa chairman Mervyn Granshaw described fatigue is "the single biggest issue facing aviation"." |
Quoting Flyorski (Reply 3): Actually I think that Jetblue did some pilot fatigue tests, they have not yet publicly released the findings, but I have heard that after a few more than the normal (eight hour) shift the pilots flew as if they where drunk (don't take this too seriously as it is just a rumor I heard-thought I would share it with you anyways). Anyways it caused some controversy. |
Quoting Ikramerica (Reply 8): But are crews being run ragged, or is the union boss just SAYING they are because it would mean more pilots hired and more revenue for the union. |
Quoting Ikramerica (Reply 8): Truck drivers were driving 36 hours straight. Pilots don't do that. |
Quoting Ikramerica (Reply 8): Any profession can be dangerous if you are too tired. |
Quoting Ikramerica (Reply 8): But they've also found that you have the intoxicated effect if you just wake up. It takes a couple hours to become fully aware. So I don't know what the answer is. 4 hour shifts where you must wake up 3 hours beforehand? |
Quoting Ward86IND (Reply 12): Are pilots allowed to take prescription pills for A.D.D.? I have ADD, and the pills sure help me stay awake...and I will be flying pretty soon. |
Quoting AA717driver (Reply 7): But, what are the odds... If running your crews ragged allows for a $10 savings on each ticket, the flying public will shout--WHOO HOO!!! |
Quoting Ward86IND (Reply 12): Are pilots allowed to take prescription pills for A.D.D.? I have ADD, and the pills sure help me stay awake...and I will be flying pretty soon. |
Quoting Zvezda (Reply 5): The next big improvement in safety will come when robots learn to fly airliners better than humans can |
Quoting BHXFAOTIPYYC (Reply 17): Is trucking self regulated in the US? Don't you have tacographs? |
Quoting BHXFAOTIPYYC (Reply 17): Great, a whole airliner to act like my computer - "a critical error has occured and you need to shut down" |
Quoting Ikramerica (Reply 1): Always believe what union leaders say. After all, while the answer to this "problem" is hiring more pilots, giving everyone shorter hours (but the same pay), this has no bearing on why union leaders ALWAYS say this about their workers, no matter what profession... |
Quoting Flyorski (Reply 3): Actually I think that Jetblue did some pilot fatigue tests, they have not yet publicly released the findings, but I have heard that after a few more than the normal (eight hour) shift the pilots flew as if they where drunk (don't take this too seriously as it is just a rumor I heard-thought I would share it with you anyways). Anyways it caused some controversy. |
Quoting SEPilot (Reply 4): I can't speak to flying, as I have not been a professional pilot, but I did work as a long haul truck driver recently. Fatigue used to be a severe problem among truckers, and the rules were not very well enforced. |
Quoting SEPilot (Reply 4): Rules for pilots are somewhat different, as they have more non-flying duties to take into account, and they also cross many more time zones much more frequently, but I do believe that if the rules are studied based on real people's performance that they can come up with rules that will enable most pilots to perform without excessive fatigue and have the productivity that the airlines need. The important part is that if the rules are enforced then everyone is on the same playing field and safety should not be compromised. |
Quoting Zvezda (Reply 5): The next big improvement in safety will come when robots learn to fly airliners better than humans can. |
Quoting Ikramerica (Reply 8): Truck drivers were driving 36 hours straight. Pilots don't do that. |
Quoting Ikramerica (Reply 8): But they've also found that you have the intoxicated effect if you just wake up. It takes a couple hours to become fully aware. So I don't know what the answer is. 4 hour shifts where you must wake up 3 hours beforehand? |
Quoting GoBoeing (Reply 10): Does anyone on this board truly, honestly feel drunk an hour after they've woken up after a good night's sleep? |
Quoting Mir (Reply 15): With fewer crews flying the same number of routes, or the same number of crews flying more routes, it's not surprising that there would be more fatigue. But it's all about the cheap fares, right? |
Quoting Zvezda (Reply 19): Did you not read my post or did you not understand it? |
Quoting Zeke (Reply 20): Its called an autopilot. |
Quoting Ikramerica (Reply 8): Any profession can be dangerous if you are too tired. |
Quoting SEPilot (Reply 14): If your medication has amphetamines, you cannot take it and hold any job that requires drug testing, unfortunately. |
Quoting Zvezda (Reply 21): No, I'm not talking about the autopilot systems. An autopilot could not have landed UA232. A humanoid robot that has learned (not been programmed to, but has learned in the same way that humans do) to fly an airliner and would sit in the right seat is quite different from what is called an autopilot. |
Quoting Zeke (Reply 20): I dont agree that safety is not compromised at the moment, and the very reason why the FAA for example has tried to bring in new rules since the report of a 1993 crash of a DC8 where the captain basically fell asleep on finals and crashed...but the airlines say that the new rules will cost the industry financially too much. Who said safety does not have a dollar factor.... |
Quoting Analog (Reply 22): Not true. You may not be able to fly (no medical), but you're fine pretty much everywhere else. This is assuming that you can justify your positive test for amphetamines with a current prescription. |
Quoting SEPilot (Reply 24): I doubt this; I strongly suspect that if you show up with amphetamines in a drug test and you are a truck driver you will not be allowed to drive, prescription or no prescription. The danger is that you can take more than your prescription and it would be very difficult to tell the difference. After all, amphetamines is the drug most likely to be abused by truckers. |
Quoting Analog (Reply 25): In theory truck drivers who follow the rules about driving within the legal number of hours (which must be logged) won't need amphetamines to stay awake. |
Quoting Flyf15 (Reply 26): I agree that fatigue is one of the greatest issues in professional aviation... and it has nothing to do with the union's opinion. It is downright scary what is legal. |
Quoting SEPilot (Reply 27): Also, just because a trucker is off duty doesn't mean he is sleeping, and he still could be using amphetamines to try and make up for it. |