Exhausted pilots reveal risky nodding off

[Soverytired]

there is waaayyyy too much exaggeration and whining going on about this. did the regional thing for 7 years both commuting and not commuting. i understood what i signed up for. however, it was never that bad. sometimes i think there is no pleasing some people.

NASA studies on this subject are very clear the fatigue affects different people in different ways. However, they have issued VERY specific guidelines that will minimize fatigue for most pilots . . . guidelines IGNORED by the airlines.

I also submit that your experience may have been unique to either your previous regional employer or your ability to bid schedules that were good for you.

Fact is, most pilots have real problems with this, you should probably pay attention rather than tooting what a non-fatiuged stud you are and how everyone else is just whinning.

For me, bringing a board and pillow aboard the plane so I can take a 2 hour nap in the back of the plane between 0200-0400 dosen't really seem safe. And no, you can't just switch over to "sleep during day" mode, because schedules fluctuate between all-day's and all-nighters.

 

[AMANSWORLD]

Reading all of this has made me sleepy.

The real eye-opener would be if we took a reporter as a ride-along for an entire 4 day trip. This would include:

1- The illegal parking scheme to save the fees from the hotel across the street from the airport.

2- The 3 hr commute in a CRJ going across 3 states trying to keep your feet off of the FMS.

3- The unending description of the daily lives of the four cats owned by your flight attendant. (One really used to be her ex-boyfriends but apparently he's gay now and she's stuck with the cat)

4- Waiting for a gate in EWR.

5- Waiting for the crew van for 40 minutes. (Three nights in a row.)

6- Thinking you are going to become injured or killed while riding in the crew van. (Thee nights in a row.)

7- Missing your wide open commute home because your waiting for a gate in EWR.

8- Getting bumped off every other flight that night that is oversold.

9- Spending the night on the crew couch.

10- Commuting home on Saturday in the same underwear you wore on Friday.

11- Coming home to be greeted by your wife and informed that you are never home, the furnace is broke, and there is no money to fix it.

The next day....do it all over again.

I agree with all of the above with the exception of EWR. ATL is much worse of a dump.