Sleepy Captain

[Kaman]

Hello,
I'm with the 1900 driver above. If you can fly, navigate, work the radios while the Captain does a crossword puzzle you are pretty much ready to upgrade. In fact, I was happy that the Captain I was flying with trusted me enough or had the skills as a leader to let me run the show under his still watchful eye.

regards,

ex-Navy Rotorhead

 

[Exskydiverdrivr]

OK you caught me! I admit it- I fell asleep the other day and trusted my FO who was the flying pilot, to safely get us to our destination. But since your gonna make an issue out of it, I promise not to ever do it again. I also promise from now on to take a Check-Airman position on every flight from now until you upgrade. I will question your every move,action, and thought process. You will only fly the legs I deem appropriate for you. I will correct you every time you mess up on the radio, and if you go below glideslope again I will call scheduling and have you pulled off the trip. In other words gear up. flaps up. shut up! BTW I'm not this cranky if I've had my nap. Care to renegotiate?....

 

[Thebadcat1313]

Hey FO, you too will take nap in the future. Remember, if it hasn't happened to you yet, it will, it's just a matter of time.....think about it.

 

[The Drizzle]

Forget the captain. You captains out there, how do you feel about your FOs falling asleep because of their second job they have to work to make ends meet?

 

[SSDD]

I've read some of these comments about not waking somebody up until you turn final, and I have to admit that I have some trouble relating. I mean, I've been known to inspect the inside of my eyelids from time to time, but the second I hear ATC calling us I'm back in the game.

Its never happened, but I'm not sure how I'd feel about somebody who can sleep through numerous radio calls, and a descend from cruise to pattern altitude. If you're that tired, maybe it is time for plan B...

 

[choppengruven]

I always tell them this

Hey I better not wake up and catch you sleeping.

 

[GEORGE DUBYA]

I have found the best solution. Stick your junk in his mouth and rub your baby batter on his eyelids.

 

[cheyflyer]

I have found the best solution. Stick your junk in his mouth and rub your baby batter on his eyelids.

OOHHH...HHEEYYY...alrighty then. Time to move on. Bottom line...let the guy have his nap provided you're not getting a line check, there are no jump seaters, and the Feds are not onboard.

 

[AgDownUnder]

Sounds like some good bate, but it's a true story.

I'm the PNF on a flight the other day and the Captain falls asleep for about 5-10 minutes in cruise - throw me some suggestions on how you guys would have handled it! Make it as funny or serious as you want. I played the nice guy (forgiving) FO.

Easy, let him/her catch a nap, when something comes up, new clearance, start descent..., get everything prepped for the change over and give em a tap and advise what the change in situation is and what you have done. If it is your leg, just continue on until you reach a point a few minutes before where they are required to be aware so they have a moment to wake up, pee, get a drink, whatever. Remember, what goes around comes around, it's cockpit kharma. Just be professional about it. Remember, this person writes your evaluation. If you have the right type of relationship with the person, you may pull a prank on them, but be very sure about that relationship and their reaction.

 

[enigma]

I skipped over the middle of this thread when it seemed to degenerate into a juvenile pissing contest, so someone may have already said this. I don't know one professional pilot who would intentionally jeopardize his job and the safety of his passengers. So, if your cockpit co-worker happens to fall asleep, realize that it wasn't an intentional act and also realize that if he/she could have stayed awake that they would have. Most likely, the next radio call will rouse them, if not let the poor guy sleep until you need him/her. I figure that a rested pilot does me more good than one who expends all his mental energy in an attempt to stay awake.

That's advice for dealing with someone who just can't stay awake. If you've got someone who habitually drops off, it is your duty to him/her to have a talk with that person.

As for me, If I get so sleepy that I can't keep my eyes open, I will let my FO know that I'm having a hard time staying awake. I ask them to keep their eyes on me and wake me up if they notice that I've conked out. That way, if I nod off for a second they leave me alone, but if I begin to snore (i.e., obviously asleep) they wake me up. I wouldn't want my FO to be sitting there wondering if he/she should wake me up. Nor would I want to try and explain my lack of consiousness to the accident investigators.

I equate the the inability to stay awake to an illness that incapacitates you, but unlike coming down with stomach cramps the inability to stay awake will go away after a very short cat nap. Let him/her snooze, wake them if you need them and then ask them if they are OK after they wake up. There may be more wrong than just sleepyness.

Bottom line. Take care of your partner. He/she would do the same for you.

enigma