Flyby1206

I know most long-haul cargo flights leave the US in the evening/late night, but as you circle your way aorund the world do you still depart late at night? Is it even more hellish on your sleep clock changing time zones and having to fly all night at the same time? Thanks

747classic

Sure. Some trips I didn't see daylight for a few days straight.
Going eastbound is easier, because you are more likely to catch the daylight, but an evening departure westbound could mean night all the way.

captjns

Not all international cargo flights depart at the o'dark thrity hour. They plan their departures to arrive at their destinations at their sort times. For example... there are flights that depart the US early in the morning, 11:30(UTC) to arrive in Europe at 20:30(UTC) to meet customs and sort requirements. Some Asian bound flights depart mid to late day to arrive at the same 20:30(Local) time to meet the customs and sort requirements.

RedeyeAV8r

Can't speak for all other Cargo carries but..................

At purple/orange everything launching from the lower 48 to Asia, Europe and South America and Hawaii all leave in the Wee hours 0230-0400 am. There a a few exceptions on weekends where there might be an afternoon launch around 3:00 PM.

From our Hub in ANC.........almost everything to ASIA launches in the late morning 0900 am to 1200 arriving in ASIA the following day ( cross INTL date line)around 1200-1500(Gentlemens's hours)..............................we have a few exceptions where the flights leave ANC around 2000 at night and arrive in ASIA at 10PM the next night. Everything launching to the Lower 48 or Europe launches in the late afternoon, 1400-1600 arrving in either IND,EWR or MEM around Midnight.

From Europe back to the Lower 48...........most of the Express Frieghters launch fro Europe around 8:30PM to 10m local and arrive in the US around Midnight.

From ASIA Back to the US going Eastbound........Most everything launches in the evening 8-10PM local flys through the night and arrives in ANC the same morning (crossing That INTL dateline again) around 11- 2:00pm.


The problem is once we get into a specific continent much of our flying is in the day LOCAL time. but is in the middle of the night on our body clock.

Or worse we continue around the world in an easterly of westerly direction crossing 6 to 8 time zones per day........................
This has a very negative affect on the body clock where you never know when to sleep.........................

You finally get back home after 8 to 16 days of this.

For me personally. as I get older it gets more difficult for me to adjust. I find that I catch more colds and other viruses. It often takes me personally 3-4 days after I return home from one of these trips before I sleep soundly through the night in my own bed. Then it is time to go back and do it again.

I hear from many of our retirees that after 6 months of "Normal sleeping" at home that they feel better than they have in years..................................

I don't wish to be older..............but I can't wait to start sleeping normally again!

EDPM

I've got 2 departures from the east coast to Europe this week. Both are between 8am and 10am.

EDPM

RedeyeAV8r

Like I said "Most" of our departues.

stu4770

On average, let's say a 737 w/ winglets, how long can you expect to be airborne from the east coast to say germany? Not asking for exact.....just an estimate

RedeyeAV8r

Not sure what the 737 with winglets has to do with it...........................

But block from JFK (New York) to FRA (Frankfurt Germany) is approx 7hrs:20min, + or -

captain_drew

Damnstraight . .Skippy . . actually . . after about 2-3 months I felt as good as I did when I was in my 30's! I didn't realize it hurt so much . .until I stopped

Used to dread having the sun hit my eyeballs in the morning. . now I look forward to getting up and getting out and about. My only conclusion is that that b*st*rds didn't pay us ANYWHERE near enough . . just for screwing with our circadian rhythms.

captain_drew

Don't think a 737 -winglets or not - has the range for a JFK/FRA run. . unless they can hit the tanker off Ireland could be wrong. .