Both Mesa GO! pilots fall asleep during flight

[OB-CPO]

Good advice.

With that in mind, however, there has not been a single airline accident caused by fatigue.

What about AA in Little Rock?

 

[Fly2Scuba]

With that in mind, however, there has not been a single airline accident caused by fatigue.

Such a blanket statement of fact should be true before you type it.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/01/24/AR2006012401580.html

And that is just the first time the NTSB has officially recognized fatigue as a factor. American Airlines Little Rock - crew was near end of duty day. I won't research every other accident, but I'd wager thousands that fatigue was an issue on many of them.

I think at this point anyone who flies for Mesa has chosen poorly. The less pilots willing to fly for them equals a better industry.

 

[Poahi]

What about AA in Little Rock?

Here's your answer:

The flight crew's failure to discontinue the approach when severe thunderstorms and their associated hazards to flight operations had moved into the airport area and the crew's failure to ensure that the spoilers had extended after touchdown.

Contributing to the accident were the flight crew's (1) impaired performance resulting from fatigue and the situational stress associated with the intent to land under the circumstances, (2) continuation of the approach to a landing when the company's maximum crosswind component was exceeded, and (3) use of reverse thrust greater than 1.3 engine pressure ratio after landing.

Source: http://www.ntsb.gov/ntsb/brief.asp?ev_id=20001212X18961&key=1

 

[Poahi]

Such a blanket statement of fact should be true before you type it.

It is true. Read the report.

Fatigue contributed to the accident, but didn't cause it. That's the point I've been trying to make - and that's one of the key reasons the rules aren't likely to change anytime soon.

Had the Mesa guys flown in to Mauna Kea, been on reduced rest, up against a 30/7 conflict and had been bullied by the company to continue flying with the threat of being terminated, we could be looking at Congressional hearings. Short of that, we all have to draw our own lines in the sand.

 

[waveflyer]

And that's why releasing scope is a bad thing. We really need "time building" to be going on for as short a period as possible... At a major- you call in- at a regional... you're pressured and you don't want the blemish on your record b/c you're trying to get to a major.

 

[OB-CPO]

It is true. Read the report.

Fatigue contributed to the accident, but didn't cause it.

Fatigue was #1 of several contributing factors.

I guess we have to wait for Mesa to sink or crater an entire hull out here don't we.

 

[waveflyer]

No- and this is a case in point. I am very glad that fatigue is getting press w/o a hole in the ground and i can be happy about that w/o calling the pilots unprofessional like some were doing. There have been other cases of pilots overflying airports b/c they've been asleep- just didn't get the press- write this journalist if you know of one.

 

[Poahi]

I guess we have to wait for Mesa to sink or crater an entire hull out here don't we.

I don't think that will make a big difference either. The AA accident didn't.

Remember when JetBlue wanted to do transcon out and backs? They actually got to try it out. American used to 'under block' their Dallas - Honolulu flights to save on staffing and got away with it for a while.

If anything, the FAA has been bending the wrong way. They have been on record saying the current rules are 'safe'. As for Mesa in Hawaii, ironically, scheduled rest isn't as much an issue as it is on the mainland.

Please, continue bashing.

 

[greyhound]

Long layovers with awkward showtimes can be just as bad as short layovers with no time to rest.

 

[WSurf]

Yea, going from AM reports then finishing late can really play on your sleep patter.

We are having this problem at my airline. Start you out on the first day early and then on the 3rd or 4th day you are bringing in the terminator.

You are getting the required rest, but it screws with your sleep clock.

ps. problem can be helped by consuming your favorite beverage to help aid in the sleeping process.