longest AA flight KDFW-VHHH
06-15-2014, 02:24 PM
#32
Runs with scissors
Joined APC: Dec 2009
Position: Going to hell in a bucket, but enjoying the ride .
Posts: 7,730
06-15-2014, 02:37 PM
#33
Runs with scissors
Joined APC: Dec 2009
Position: Going to hell in a bucket, but enjoying the ride .
Posts: 7,730
What I've observed is....it's different for everyone. There is no one size fits all solution.
Some guys sleep like a log through moderate turbulance, some guys can't sleep at all, even when it's smooth as glass. As far as the break schedules, it's what ever you find that works best for you, but then you have to negotiate with 3 other pilots as to what works best for them.
If it were up to me alone, based on my experience, I would fly the first 25% of the flight, then go to bed for the middle 50%, then come back up front and fly the last 25%, approach and landing....UNLESS that last 25% is over 4 hours, as it often is, from JNB-ATL. In that case, I'd rather get my rest closer to landing, and not be sitting up there going into a comatose state, just as we are starting the descent.
If it really bothers them, guys will bid off it, but look around and you'll see that it is the most senior F/O seat in the house, and all of those guys could be flying domestic Capt. and some of them already did, but left that lifestyle to...
Get some rest, while getting paid to do it!
It seems that flying 5 legs a day to a 9hr. layover with a 6am push sucks more than a 14 hour buffett with 6 hours sleeping, on the way to happy hour!
06-15-2014, 02:57 PM
#34
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: May 2010
Position: Baja Vermont
Posts: 5,196
Timbo,
If they move everyone except EK to DWC, that will be the most protectionist move imaginable. DWC is like KIAD was in 1970, a lonely place with a few movements to keep the controllers awake. Awake they are, too. One of my guys, taxying out without a plane in sight, got dinged for crossing a hold point NOT at the runway. The instruction was merely to hold on the parallel at one of 5 crossing taxiways--not a plane in sight. Probably 55 minutes in light traffic to JW, new Marquis is a solid 40.
GF
If they move everyone except EK to DWC, that will be the most protectionist move imaginable. DWC is like KIAD was in 1970, a lonely place with a few movements to keep the controllers awake. Awake they are, too. One of my guys, taxying out without a plane in sight, got dinged for crossing a hold point NOT at the runway. The instruction was merely to hold on the parallel at one of 5 crossing taxiways--not a plane in sight. Probably 55 minutes in light traffic to JW, new Marquis is a solid 40.
GF
06-15-2014, 03:04 PM
#35
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: Jul 2006
Posts: 2,918
I've been flying 4 pilot, over 14 hour legs for over 10 years now, both as F/O (MD-11, ATL-NRT) and as Capt, so I've had a lot of time to think about what the best way to rest is.
What I've observed is....it's different for everyone. There is no one size fits all solution.
Some guys sleep like a log through moderate turbulance, some guys can't sleep at all, even when it's smooth as glass. As far as the break schedules, it's what ever you find that works best for you, but then you have to negotiate with 3 other pilots as to what works best for them.
If it were up to me alone, based on my experience, I would fly the first 25% of the flight, then go to bed for the middle 50%, then come back up front and fly the last 25%, approach and landing....UNLESS that last 25% is over 4 hours, as it often is, from JNB-ATL. In that case, I'd rather get my rest closer to landing, and not be sitting up there going into a comatose state, just as we are starting the descent.
If it really bothers them, guys will bid off it, but look around and you'll see that it is the most senior F/O seat in the house, and all of those guys could be flying domestic Capt. and some of them already did, but left that lifestyle to...
Get some rest, while getting paid to do it!
It seems that flying 5 legs a day to a 9hr. layover with a 6am push sucks more than a 14 hour buffett with 6 hours sleeping, on the way to happy hour!
What I've observed is....it's different for everyone. There is no one size fits all solution.
Some guys sleep like a log through moderate turbulance, some guys can't sleep at all, even when it's smooth as glass. As far as the break schedules, it's what ever you find that works best for you, but then you have to negotiate with 3 other pilots as to what works best for them.
If it were up to me alone, based on my experience, I would fly the first 25% of the flight, then go to bed for the middle 50%, then come back up front and fly the last 25%, approach and landing....UNLESS that last 25% is over 4 hours, as it often is, from JNB-ATL. In that case, I'd rather get my rest closer to landing, and not be sitting up there going into a comatose state, just as we are starting the descent.
If it really bothers them, guys will bid off it, but look around and you'll see that it is the most senior F/O seat in the house, and all of those guys could be flying domestic Capt. and some of them already did, but left that lifestyle to...
Get some rest, while getting paid to do it!
It seems that flying 5 legs a day to a 9hr. layover with a 6am push sucks more than a 14 hour buffett with 6 hours sleeping, on the way to happy hour!
Yep...well said. Put me in that category that couldn't sleep on breaks, couldn't sleep on the international layover, and was miserable in between. Hence I bid off the luxurious wide body lifestyle and am back slugging it out on domestic 737. But you know what? Afternoon sign ins at IAD (12 min drive), two legs per day, US controllers, no jet lag, no time zones, no international hullabaloo. I'm digging it. Like you said above, to each their own.
06-16-2014, 01:42 AM
#36
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: Apr 2009
Posts: 710
06-16-2014, 07:41 AM
#37
No longer cares
Joined APC: Mar 2008
Position: 767er Captain
Posts: 12,109
Yep...well said. Put me in that category that couldn't sleep on breaks, couldn't sleep on the international layover, and was miserable in between. Hence I bid off the luxurious wide body lifestyle and am back slugging it out on domestic 737. But you know what? Afternoon sign ins at IAD (12 min drive), two legs per day, US controllers, no jet lag, no time zones, no international hullabaloo. I'm digging it. Like you said above, to each their own.
And since I have embraced the suck, I don't mind going to the ATL.
06-16-2014, 04:25 PM
#38
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: Mar 2008
Position: Assistant Greens Keeper
Posts: 1,011
Back in 2008/09 Thai had JFK-BKK. 17:20. Thankfully I was in the Prem Economy (basically US domestic first class) but after about 14 hours I was crawling the walls. A couple cold Singhas on arrival cured that!
06-16-2014, 04:53 PM
#39
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: May 2012
Posts: 677
I think I cleaned the garage two months in a row.
06-16-2014, 04:59 PM
#40
Runs with scissors
Joined APC: Dec 2009
Position: Going to hell in a bucket, but enjoying the ride .
Posts: 7,730
I'll be home on Weds....there's beer in the fridge, leave me one.
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