Any truth that flying neight cargo accelerates aging?

[buttercup]

Ok guys I was just curious. I've never spoken specifically to a Fed Ex, DHL, or UPS guy but I've heard pilots from every other segment of the industry say "That back side flying is unhealthy blah blah blah". Is this true or is it just one of those things that a pilot in a lesser job says to try to justify his current position and make himself feel better. Just like when some say JBLU isnt paying for their planes in the hopes that JBLU will one day go out of business.

 

[PeanuckleCRJ]

neiighhh.. neiiiighhhh

 

[calfo]

Ok guys I was just curious. I've never spoken specifically to a Fed Ex, DHL, or UPS guy but I've heard pilots from every other segment of the industry say "That back side flying is unhealthy blah blah blah". Is this true or is it just one of those things that a pilot in a lesser job says to try to justify his current position and make himself feel better. Just like when some say JBLU isnt paying for their planes in the hopes that JBLU will one day go out of business.

Doing night flying part time is definetly a body-clock killer. I flew checks out of MDW in the middle of the night for two years, then did a rotating shift at the customs service (intentionally not capitalized) for ten years. I can tell you that constant fatigue will do you in. At the time, I was single and could sleep anytime I wanted. After kids, pets, garbagemen, mailmen, et al, come into the scene, your window of sleep is nothing that it used to be.

If you maintain a night schedule for at least a month at a time, you can adapt. But, if you try and exist on a night schedule for the weekdays, then switch to a day schedule on the weekends, you're a candidate for chronic fatigue. There are many NASA studies that outline this.

 

[Stifler's Mom]

Can it be any worse than waking up every morning wondering if your company has entered Ch 11, required you to take up to a 50% paycut, furloughed you, closed one of it's hubs, or even closed it's doors entirely?

 

[PurpleChimp]

I hope it takes a few years off my life. After all, it will be the diaper wearing nursing home living, crappy years at the end!

 

[1st Overnite]

I don't think it accelerates aging, other people just look younger.

 

[skykid]

Its hell. I was only able to turn my 3 days vacation (first year) into 2 and 1/2 weeks off this month. I'll probably be fatigued when I go back to Memphis to sit in the crash pad for the last several days of the month. I could put myself on First Fly, but that might require getting up in the middle of the night.

 

[rickair7777]

My experience is that it's not bad at all, IF you can staty on that schedule...

If you flip-flop between day and night at work or when you go back to the family, that REALLY takes a toll

 

[fr8dogfo]

Ok guys I was just curious. I've never spoken specifically to a Fed Ex, DHL, or UPS guy but I've heard pilots from every other segment of the industry say "That back side flying is unhealthy blah blah blah". Is this true or is it just one of those things that a pilot in a lesser job says to try to justify his current position and make himself feel better. Just like when some say JBLU isnt paying for their planes in the hopes that JBLU will one day go out of business.

Yes, its true....IMO. Days off are good, pay is good, and yes with a 7/7 schedule vacation is good. But after 6 1/2 years I had enough and went corporate. I wasnt a good day sleeper and after an all nighter, working that is, and only about 3-4 hours sleep during the day, it took 2 days to recover. Throw in commuting and life really sucked. I still had about 19 years left until retirement and didnt figure I would live that long at the rate I was going. I started looking around at the older guys who have been doing it for awhile and said screw this. The early 50 guys look about 60 and the 60+ guys who have "retired" to the panel look pretty much dead. I think having to pay for all the previous "captain toys" is the only thing keeping them alive.

So....if you go that route move to your base, bid reserve with last out option if you have it, then bang in sick when they call. Stay current and thats it.

 

[Stifler's Mom]

Back Side of the Clock Song




.

 

[Sporto]

You betcha

Ok guys I was just curious. I've never spoken specifically to a Fed Ex, DHL, or UPS guy but I've heard pilots from every other segment of the industry say "That back side flying is unhealthy blah blah blah". Is this true or is it just one of those things that a pilot in a lesser job says to try to justify his current position and make himself feel better. Just like when some say JBLU isnt paying for their planes in the hopes that JBLU will one day go out of business.

Too soon for me to tell personally but all you have to do is hang out at the ABX pilot lounge and see some the old geezers running around that place. A lot of these guys look like their 70+ years old.

 

[800Dog]

Can it be any worse than waking up every morning wondering if your company has entered Ch 11, required you to take up to a 50% paycut, furloughed you, closed one of it's hubs, or even closed it's doors entirely?

Currently living that life and sleeping quite well at night. Money is not everything. To each their own.

 

[CaptainMark]

What the hell is NEIGHT cargo anyway? Is that german or something?

 

[Tip Tank]

I did it for nine years with no problem (easy switching) and the all of the sudden, my body said, "that'll be enough of that". My immune system is now officially shot to hell. I'm still in freight, but fortunately I have been able to work a day schedule and it has made a world of difference.

Heard a rumor that something like 40% of Fedex pilots medical out before they hit age 60 - a large part of that attributed to the nights. I wonder what that average percentage is for daytime pilots. Anyone seen a study?

 

[buttercup]

What the hell is NEIGHT cargo anyway? Is that german or something?

Dude WTF is everyone a spell checker on this *********************ng board? It's bad enough having to deal with egotistical moderators. I don't exactly save my best work for flightinfo.

 

[srjorion]

I don't exactly save my best work for flightinfo.

LOL!

What kind of loser life must one have to get enjoyment in correcting internet spelling?

 

[NuGuy]

Dude WTF is everyone a spell checker on this *********************ng board? It's bad enough having to deal with egotistical moderators. I don't exactly save my best work for flightinfo.

Yes, but there is close, and not close, and you sir, are not even close.

It's one thing to use there instead of their, or brake instead of break.

It's something else to use loose instead of lose, or mute instead of moot.

But I'd say most people around here would give you a pass.

But man, when not only do you misspell NIGHT, but you don't even recognize it, AND you get pissed when someone calls you on it, well then you get a free pass to the head of the dunce line.

I weep for the internet generation. In real life, people judge you partially by how well you speak. In the written medium, its how you write. I just laugh when people write like a l3wt d00dspeaker, then wonder why everyone thinks they're a moron.

Nu

 

['72Gremlin]

Dude WTF is everyone a spell checker on this *********************ng board? It's bad enough having to deal with egotistical moderators. I don't exactly save my best work for flightinfo.

Nice job with "egotistical" though..

 

[buttercup]

Yes, but there is close, and not close, and you sir, are not even close.

It's one thing to use there instead of their, or brake instead of break.

It's something else to use loose instead of lose, or mute instead of moot.

But I'd say most people around here would give you a pass.

But man, when not only do you misspell NIGHT, but you don't even recognize it, AND you get pissed when someone calls you on it, well then you get a free pass to the head of the dunce line.

I weep for the internet generation. In real life, people judge you partially by how well you speak. In the written medium, its how you write. I just laugh when people write like a l3wt d00dspeaker, then wonder why everyone thinks they're a moron.

Nu

I know how to ********************ing spell NIGHT it was a typo! You fuc*ing TOOL. I had my head down on the keyboard as I was talking on a cellphone and fuc*ing watching television. I don't proofread this sh*t

 

[PurpleTail]

Everybody is different and some like the night flying and some don't.

Me personally, I love the night stuff and make it a point to manage my sleep while out on a trip accordingly and its not that hard to do. I HATE setting an alarm clock for an early go...that means I have to get to bed early (very hard for me to do) not think/dream about the 'over sleep' scenerio (always happens) and I am useless at 6:30 am.

I am just a night owl by nature, have been since college. I really don't mind flying all night, going to the hotel exhausted, putting on my eye covers and sleeping as long as I want with no worries of an alarm clock or oversleeping...but that is just me.

There has be NO study of FedEx pilots and effects of backside of the clock flying and NO, 40% do not sick out early...more like maybe 10-15%. THERE was a study on autoworkers that worked the back side of the clock graveyard shift and there was a high percentage that developed a variety of illnesses. Difference though is they worked 5 on 2 off schedules...even if you really mess up your schedule your 15 on 13 off and most have it 13 on 15 off schedules.

I would tell you what my first 4 months of the year have been like but I don't think you'd believe me...I will say this though I have a total of 4 landing so far this year (all in Jan) my currency would have lapsed but I had my 6 month check and got current in the sim I'm good for another 90 days.

 

[buttercup]

Yes, but there is close, and not close, and you sir, are not even close.

It's one thing to use there instead of their, or brake instead of break.

It's something else to use loose instead of lose, or mute instead of moot.

But I'd say most people around here would give you a pass.

But man, when not only do you misspell NIGHT, but you don't even recognize it, AND you get pissed when someone calls you on it, well then you get a free pass to the head of the dunce line.

I weep for the internet generation. In real life, people judge you partially by how well you speak. In the written medium, its how you write. I just laugh when people write like a l3wt d00dspeaker, then wonder why everyone thinks they're a moron.

Nu

You fuc*ing dork. Let me guess flying planes is all you know. By the way Einstein your grammatical skills are unvirtuous and atrocious. You are commiting an elementary school mistake, overuse of commas. Is that because you can't conjur up a straight, consistent thought. Also in your last sentence you left out the apostrophe between the t and the s in its.

 

[ultrarunner]

Ok guys I was just curious. I've never spoken specifically to a Fed Ex, DHL, or UPS guy but I've heard pilots from every other segment of the industry say "That back side flying is unhealthy blah blah blah".

Studies have show that it shortens life expectancy...I'll see if I can dig up the reference...

I know a bunch of 40 year olds from a couple of those carriers, and they don't look a day over 60!

 

[aviatrix767]

as214,

Has anyone ever told you that you have serious "anger management" issues? If you get THAT upset when someone makes a comment concerning your spelling, I'd HATE to see what you might be like if someone questioned your judgement in the cockpit.

With that explosive of a "type A" personality, if I were you, I'd be more concerned with the ill-effects from that rather than flying the back side of the clock!!

Now then....take a big deep breath...hold, 2, 3, 4....slowly exhale.... (repeat as often as necessary).

 

[buttercup]

as214,

Has anyone ever told you that you have serious "anger management" issues? If you get THAT upset when someone makes a comment concerning your spelling, I'd HATE to see what you might be like if someone questioned your judgement in the cockpit.

With that explosive of a "type A" personality, if I were you, I'd be more concerned with the ill-effects from that rather than flying the back side of the clock!!

Now then....take a big deep breath...hold, 2, 3, 4....slowly exhale.... (repeat as often as necessary).

Another rocket scientist I bet who has nothing going on outside of aviation. How do I know this? You question what is written on an aviation forum and judge from there? Fool. Also those guys who always judge others , or say that they are most relaxed are the sh*ttiest pilots anyway. Get a life outside of aviation bubba and then start with your Dr. Phil antics. I'm going to go out on a limb here and guess that you're a Republican with your simpleton look at life and judge others attitude without looking internally. Also looking at your avatar you are probably from the South. No offense Bubba, but the most attitude and bitterness I've ever seen is from people from your neck of the woods crying of the Civil War. Talk about anger and chips on their shoulder. Just because your ancestors got their aszes kicked over 140 years ago , bunch of pansies....

 

[Purpledog]

All you have to do is go to the AOC in MEM at 2 am and look at the relics walking around. There is a statistic out there, I can't remember the reference though, that somewhere around 30-40% don't make it to retirement. I feel like a frickin train wreck after 4-5 days of hub turning and it takes a couple to recover. I can't sleep past 1300 which is what time the vacuum cleaner races and the vacuum/wall stress tests begin. That said, I usually manage a couple months off with our vacation system.

 

[fr8dogfo]

I would tell you what my first 4 months of the year have been like but I don't think you'd believe me...I will say this though I have a total of 4 landing so far this year (all in Jan) my currency would have lapsed but I had my 6 month check and got current in the sim I'm good for another 90 days.

Atta boy, way to work it. When I was doing it, a schedule like that would have meant living in Ohio....NOT AN OPTION....Im an angry southerner, or endless hours in the crash pad.

as214.......Calm Down Man! If you want to go the freight route you should do fine. As someone else mentioned, sounds like you will have other issues to worry about long before the effects of night flying set in.

 

[Quiet Flight]

a kolleeg of mine said it best shortly after he was hiured at fedex. he was axed if he thoughwt flying at night would accelerat aging. his response: "i
've been flyin at a rejunal airline for five yeers already. i think id be ded a lot faster if i kept doing that for $55k per yeer as opposed to flying at neight for $200k a yr!"

Good poin i thoughwt.

 

[Philerup]

I can't sleep past 1300 which is what time the vacuum cleaner races and the vacuum/wall stress tests begin.

That is the killer. I can sleep fine in the day provided I am not in a hotel where the maids slam doors, yell down the hall, or knock on your door to make sure you really mean it when you put up the "Do not Disturb" sign. When I am flying out of home I am fine, but hotels suck. A week of that and I am a zombie.

 

[Echopapa]

There is nothing "Magical" about being awake when the sun is down. You don't expose yourself to "aging" rays from the moon.

Its the STRESS of being awake when your body wants to sleep that ages you.

If you don't have a good work-rest plan then you are going to be in trouble...here and at every airline.

I see SWA comming in to land at 6AM. What time do you gotta wake up to make a 6 AM landing...4AM? 3AM? You better have a rest plan for that wake up call.

FedEx has a huge variety of schedules...Day, night, international, out and backs...ETC. You are only forced to be junior once, as a new hire. Any other time you are junior it is by choice....upgrade for the money for example. So unless you are a new hire, you are not forced to fly any trip or schedule you don't want to.

I for one fly very little night. I bid day reserve and last month spent 5 nights in a hotel room and didn't fly after midnight once. But thats just my choice. I passed up 72 Captain to be able to do that.

 

[Falconjet]

That is the killer. I can sleep fine in the day provided I am not in a hotel where the maids slam doors, yell down the hall, or knock on your door to make sure you really mean it when you put up the "Do not Disturb" sign. When I am flying out of home I am fine, but hotels suck. A week of that and I am a zombie.

That is why I wear earplugs to sleep (as well as to mow the yard, ride out to the jet on the crew bus, and for the entire flight as well). A nice frigid room, the eye bra and some ear plugs and would take a bomb going off to wake me up when I am really tired.

I'm pretty sure that I will buy the farm in a hotel fire because I will never hear the fire alarm and will surely fry like a cheetos.

FJ