Hi Guys,how is it today, still many more cockpit hours than spare time to relax and sleep for pilots?Do airlines care for their pilots that they get enough sleep between the shifts? Are they able to book a hotel room when the have to stay somehwere in nowhere between flights or befor a shift starts?

This is dependent on a few things: Airline employing, route/aircraft type, seniority, etc.The real question is what are companies doing to combat fatigue. That's a long winded discussion and one that can't be simply answered with FAA "rhetoric" and regulation quoting (Nonflying/flying duty times are probably going to change again). The FAA creates and enforces the regulations, but the airlines have to turn a profit. This is the general stigma on airlines now. Regionals these days are under heavy scrutiny, especially since Colgan Air 3407. Consider I'm not an airline pilot now, my view is drawn from that of my number of friends currently at the regionals and majors.There's an interesting albeit "stating the obvious" documentary PBS aired months ago. A newer one was released two months ago. http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/flyingcheap/ Click "Introduction" and then "Watch the Program Now".

Are they able to book a hotel room when the have to stay somehwere in nowhere between flights or befor a shift starts?

As the last poster suggested, most of it "depends". But yes, if you stay at a certain place for long enough time span you will have a hotel room, I believe also during daytime. As for work days you might imagine something like at least ~10 days off a month, but it could be more eventually. Well, depends. :(

So it's still possible to start a flight having not getting enough sleep befor, endangering the safety of the a/c and pax. What can and already did happen when pilots have had not enough sleep and rest befor a flight, befor approach phase, everyone knows who is a pilot or crew or have seen some nice NG or other chanel documentation videos.Just some quick little tests can be done by airlines with pilots befor the start their shift, to check if they are ok or if they are a danger for the safety of a/c&rew&pax.I know of own experience how it goes with small companies when the bos tells you to drive a loooong way out to a field trip, doing the job and drive back, no matter how late it's gonna be when driving back. No money free for staying in a hotel befor I drive back. I know how it is driving back being sick / ill or just too tired, not allowed to stay in a hotel.But does the same may happen to pilots? Did alreay happen and the pax does not know about it because no crash happened?

So it's still possible to start a flight having not getting enough sleep befor

Well, what do you expect. If check in time is 0330 in the morning, how are you assuming to have had "great" sleep... LOL :LMAO:Oh on a side note, just recently I read some British article that stated a siginificant percentage (can't remember the exact number) of British captains had stated to have fallen asleep on at least one of their flights so far, but do not quote me on that! :rolleyes:Also someone knowledgable might chime in to confirm if it's true that napping is actually encouraged during airline flights. Don't quite know if this is a myth or not. :(

Well, what do you expect. If check in time is 0330 in the morning, how are you assuming to have had "great" sleep... LOL :LMAO:Oh on a side note, just recently I read some British article that stated a siginificant percentage (can't remember the exact number) of British captains had stated to have fallen asleep on at least one of their flights so far, but do not quote me on that! :rolleyes:Also someone knowledgable might chime in to confirm if it's true that napping is actually encouraged during airline flights. Don't quite know if this is a myth or not. :(

Many people have fallen asleep while flying. Quite frankly it is a boring job and can put you to sleep quickly. I've never heard of anyone to encourage working pilots to take naps unless they are in the back as a relief crew.

Many people have fallen asleep while flying. Quite frankly it is a boring job and can put you to sleep quickly. I've never heard of anyone to encourage working pilots to take naps unless they are in the back as a relief crew.

Totally wrong. NASA studies prooved that 20min power napping is highly recommended and it is being encouraged from the airlines since years!On the other hand the new flight duty regulations are even worse for us pilots as they reduce e.g. the minimum rest time between flights even more.Boring? Even flying exclusively longerange isn't boring, except you have the wrong attitude towards your job.

well, it's one thing to prevent boarding a plane having not had enough sleep but another thing what you do being in the cockpit for hours - else than working the radio, checking the weather reports, checking the approach charts, watching the instruments and chat with your partner. Mostly you need just one pilot while at flightlevel but two when at takeoff or approach&landing phase. But you always have to be full awake and concentrated in emergency situations and critical flight phases. So, I guess better not playing a ego shooter on your notebook while being in the cockpit, becoming frustrated and unconcentrated when something unexpected happens or the descent&approach phase starts... or just being not awake enough by lag of sleep ... Why can it be even possible that airlines doesnt care about that and so not about the safety of aircraft&Crew and pax!!!???

Totally wrong. NASA studies prooved that 20min power napping is highly recommended and it is being encouraged from the airlines since years!On the other hand the new flight duty regulations are even worse for us pilots as they reduce e.g. the minimum rest time between flights even more.Boring? Even flying exclusively longerange isn't boring, except you have the wrong attitude towards your job.

Are you a line pilot?I know the research done by NASA but I have never heard about any airline telling pilots to take a nap. Forward me some ops manuals you are referencing.Yes flying is a boring task in cruise. Going direct at night with nothing to see outside, instruments and navigation unwavering and a silent radio with a continuous drone of engines. It's the truth I have not talked to one pilot that has said cruise is not boring. I love my job I wouldn't trade it fo anything but you do have to admit that there are these aspects of flying.

1. Are you a line pilot?2. I know the research done by NASA but I have never heard about any airline telling pilots to take a nap. Forward me some ops manuals you are referencing.3. Yes flying is a boring task in cruise. Going direct at night with nothing to see outside, instruments and navigation unwavering and a silent radio with a continuous drone of engines. It's the truth I have not talked to one pilot that has said cruise is not boring. I love my job I wouldn't trade it fo anything but you do have to admit that there are these aspects of flying.

1. Yes (longrange) 2. As this is enhancing safety, it is common knowledge among airline pilots, so I suggest YOU do some research (if you really are a CFI you should know that!)3. In more than 14000hrs I've never been bored. Again, if you are bored then you are not taking your job serious enough or it's simply the wrong job for you

I like talking to myself in cruise, so I don't think it's boring.In FSX of course I can just press Q and open itunes.

Again, if you are bored then you are not taking your job serious enough or it's simply the wrong job for you

Err. No. I'm sorry but this is such a strong statement. A little too strong. The monotonous drone of the engine can lull one to sleep. Some folks would call this "boring". I call it relaxing. I love flying and wouldn't do anything else. I'm pretty sure, also, I'm going to the "right for me" industry regardless of my boredness.Also, The FAA (the leading regulation setter) doesn't support the "power nap" idea. Yet. You know this. Of course the pilots can, amongst themselves, agree for one to get some shut eye. Yes, it helps during certain more critical phases of flight. But officially, NO napping. That relates more to the original question. :(

2. As this is enhancing safety, it is common knowledge among airline pilots, so I suggest YOU do some research (if you really are a CFI you should know that!)

Research is one thing but ultimately it is up to FAA to decide if napping behind the controls is legal and right now it is NOT. Not sure where you fly and and under what jurisdiction you fall but your statement is bit over the top (is it the first time?). It's a bizarre suggestion for a 14,000 hrs pilot to claim that pilots should keep up with NASA's (voluminous) research and apply it to daily flying.

1. Yes (longrange) 2. As this is enhancing safety, it is common knowledge among airline pilots, so I suggest YOU do some research (if you really are a CFI you should know that!)3. In more than 14000hrs I've never been bored. Again, if you are bored then you are not taking your job serious enough or it's simply the wrong job for you

If it is such common knowledge then why haven't I heard about pilots sleeping on purpose while flying the airplane? Again, references not NASA research. Ops manuals would help your case in showing where this is approved practice for the pilots.How can you say you have never been bored? Being bored isn't a sign that you don't love your job or you are bad at it but just means at sometimes there is not much to do so your mind just wanders.

1) Bored? You bet. Same thing, day after day, night after night, routine, it gets boring at times.2) Naps, apparently much more comman than most people think.3) Any flight over about 2 1/2 hrs, we genrally pulled out the ches board. Some had a little peg below the piece you stuck into the board, others were magnetic.DB.