Power napping in the cockpit

KLB said:
Most passengers think we're sittng up front all steely eyed with a vice-like grip on the yoke, ands beads of sweat pouring from our foreheads the entire time. You know...like they see in the movies.
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Most of the people I encounter think all they're doing is sitting on their hands babysitting the autopilot. Seeing as how since deregulation people have wanted full service with unsustainable low fares, I really couldn't care less what most of them think.
 
I'm in the "I don't care what they think about it crowd." Unless it were to negatively impact their safety, and this very clearly does not, I don't see how it is remotely the passengers concern whether or not we are allowed to take a nap. As a whole, yes, I'd much rather see more workable schedules. Even so, sometimes you're just tired - bad night of sleep or what have you. Much better to take a power nap than to be fighting bouts of microsleep flying an approach to mins.
 
Bandit_Driver said:
Definately feasible on a lot of the current route structure including the 5-8 legs a day regional pilots too.

I don't see anything wrong if someone needs to take nap for whatever reason. I would rather have the pilots less fatigued when it counts at 200 1/2 and blowing snow, than dog tired. There isn't a whole lot going on in cruise that one pilot can't mind the store.
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cmill said:
I think the only real problem here is one pilot thinking the other is flying the airplane, and both end up taking a nap. Not that i have any personal experience with that...
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While I agree with you in theory, Bandit- there are 'pros' to the situation, the 'cons' that Cmill mentioned are pretty much the sum of my argument.

There's a thin line between "hey man, it's your nap break" and the Go! crew in a default holding pattern off the shores of Hawaii.
 
I work for an airline that allows controlled rest in the flight deck. Per our SOP it is for 40 minutes so as not to induce sleep inertia. Honestly though, between the time getting ready to rest and the time afterwards to get back into the picture, it takes around an hour total time.

It's a fantastic tool to avoid serious fatigue in our flying. We often fly night turn-arounds with 12 hours duty starting at 8pm or long haul flights of 7-8 hours starting around the same time. On those flights the controlled rest is very necessary. Never once had a passenger voice a concern over it. We take pillows, blankets, eye shades, and ear plugs into the cockpit for this. The FAs at our airline are trained to call us every half hour if we don't call first. That prevents the two pilot asleep problem. Not to mention the aircraft we fly has an advisory and caution system if no pilot inputs are made for more than 20 minutes.

In over ten years of domestic flying in the USA I never felt the need to nap. Luckily the majority of my flying, well 99.9% of it, was between 6am and midnight. For long haul international without relief crews it's an absolute must. For any red-eye flying it should be allowed.

The FAA and the U.S. airlines really need to get onboard with the science of fatigue managment for both this issue and flight and duty time limitations.




Typhoonpilot
 
cmill said:
I think the only real problem here is one pilot thinking the other is flying the airplane, and both end up taking a nap. Not that i have any personal experience with that...
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One time.... a skyway....

Oh, I'll tell that story over a beer.
 
typhoonpilot said:
Not to mention the aircraft we fly has an advisory and caution system if no pilot inputs are made for more than 20 minutes.

The FAA and the U.S. airlines really need to get onboard with the science of fatigue managment for both this issue and flight and duty time limitations.
Typhoonpilot
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Are you flying a 744 ?

I agree the FAA needs to get on the ball.
 
KLB said:
Most passengers think we're sittng up front all steely eyed with a vice-like grip on the yoke, ands beads of sweat pouring from our foreheads the entire time. You know...like they see in the movies.
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I thought they nap and play on their laptops the whole time.
 
typhoonpilot said:
Not to mention the aircraft we fly has an advisory and caution system if no pilot inputs are made for more than 20 minutes.
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That was explained in ground school as "Well, the 767 is a big fat girl who wants attention. So, you have to touch her every few minutes or she'll complain." ;)
 
Wee bit of a thread revival, but I was reading the following in an AF pub (202v3) and recalled this thread:

9.9.6. Controlled Cockpit Rest. Unless further restricted in a MAJCOM Supplement or MDS specific
Volume 3, controlled cockpit rest may be implemented when the basic aircrew includes a second
qualified pilot.
9.9.6.1. Must be restricted to non-critical phases of flight between cruise and one hour prior to
planned descent.
9.9.6.2. The resting crewmember must be immediately awakened if a situation develops that may
affect flight safety.
9.9.6.3. Cockpit rest shall only be taken by one crewmember at a time.
9.9.6.4. All cockpit crewmembers including the resting member must remain at their stations.
9.9.6.5. A rest period shall be limited to a maximum of 45 minutes.
9.9.6.6. More than one rest period per crewmember is permitted if the opportunity exists.
9.9.6.7. Controlled cockpit rest is not authorized with any aircraft system malfunctions that
increase cockpit workload (e.g., Autopilot, Navigation Systems).
9.9.6.8. Cockpit rest shall not be a substitute for any required crew rest.

Wouldn't mind me some 45 minute naps!
 
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