Ultra long flights
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Ultra long flights
I am writing my thesis on Long Range Flight Operations. There would appear to be a great deal written on the rest requirements of flight deck crew but I can find very little pertaining to cabin crew rest facilities and duty times. I would especially welcome any opinions regarding upper lobe rest areas as fitted to 773 (did BA ever buy any of these?) Would you prefer lower deck rest areas? What other facilities are required (toilet/shower/wardrobes etc) other than somewhere to sleep? Any opinions gladly received.
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Cabin Crew Rest Areas and Rules?????
Now there's a grey area! I can't comment on the rules as i have no idea myself, and if you ever find out anything conclusive then i would be very interested to hear about it! What i can tell you is the reality for UK charter airlines.
Our rest area on an 11 1/4 hour flight to The Maldives consists of a metal bar box in the back galley covered with a pillow and a blanket IF you can find one and haven't run out! Your rest period IF YOU ACTUALLY GET ONE, is reguarly interupted by passengers. The company won't even hold back 4 or 5 passenger seats from sale for our use on long range flights. Flight Crew on the other hand have 2 seats set aside in the Premium cabin. For crying out loud, we have 315 seats on a 767-300!!!!!!!!
Our flight time limitations vary depending on how many sectors you are operating and what time you report for work. As a rough guide you can do 13 1/4 hrs and then another 3 hrs on top (discression) if you check in at say 1000. NICE 16 1/4 hrs and no guaranteed rest!!!!
With regards to dedicated showers, bathrobes and toilets.........are you MAD??
After all that, I love the job and you just get on with it. Take the rough with the smooth and have A LOT of fun!
Good luck with you thesis
UKJET
Now there's a grey area! I can't comment on the rules as i have no idea myself, and if you ever find out anything conclusive then i would be very interested to hear about it! What i can tell you is the reality for UK charter airlines.
Our rest area on an 11 1/4 hour flight to The Maldives consists of a metal bar box in the back galley covered with a pillow and a blanket IF you can find one and haven't run out! Your rest period IF YOU ACTUALLY GET ONE, is reguarly interupted by passengers. The company won't even hold back 4 or 5 passenger seats from sale for our use on long range flights. Flight Crew on the other hand have 2 seats set aside in the Premium cabin. For crying out loud, we have 315 seats on a 767-300!!!!!!!!
Our flight time limitations vary depending on how many sectors you are operating and what time you report for work. As a rough guide you can do 13 1/4 hrs and then another 3 hrs on top (discression) if you check in at say 1000. NICE 16 1/4 hrs and no guaranteed rest!!!!
With regards to dedicated showers, bathrobes and toilets.........are you MAD??
After all that, I love the job and you just get on with it. Take the rough with the smooth and have A LOT of fun!
Good luck with you thesis
UKJET
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Tallbloke,
here's how it goes in AF:
For LH we have what it's calledx "horizontal crew rests"=bunks, not airplane seats. In all aircraft type (A330-340, B777) except B747(all types) we have Lower Crew Rests. I prefer the Lower type because there's less noise and more privacy (in LCR there is a curtain for each bunk while in the 747 there's only a small partition between two beds). We get 2 clean blankets, 2 pillows and clean set of sheets each. On the 747 there's also a small sink with running water. My favorite are the A330-340 ones: biger bunks, more room and better ergonomy.
We have minimum rest times, which means yhou cannot do less than that but you can do more. What we usually do is divide by two the thime between the first and the second service. To give you an idea the minimum rest times start at:
30' for flight time between 5 and 5 1/2 hours
to, ascending:
4hours for flights from 14 to 14.59 hours.
About the toilets, we have a crew toilet on FWD, but no shower (it would take too long to take one anyway!). On the A330-340 and 747 there is a small wardrobe in the rest area, while in 777 there only are hooks to hang your clothes (clothes hangers provided).
Hope it helps!
here's how it goes in AF:
For LH we have what it's calledx "horizontal crew rests"=bunks, not airplane seats. In all aircraft type (A330-340, B777) except B747(all types) we have Lower Crew Rests. I prefer the Lower type because there's less noise and more privacy (in LCR there is a curtain for each bunk while in the 747 there's only a small partition between two beds). We get 2 clean blankets, 2 pillows and clean set of sheets each. On the 747 there's also a small sink with running water. My favorite are the A330-340 ones: biger bunks, more room and better ergonomy.
We have minimum rest times, which means yhou cannot do less than that but you can do more. What we usually do is divide by two the thime between the first and the second service. To give you an idea the minimum rest times start at:
30' for flight time between 5 and 5 1/2 hours
to, ascending:
4hours for flights from 14 to 14.59 hours.
About the toilets, we have a crew toilet on FWD, but no shower (it would take too long to take one anyway!). On the A330-340 and 747 there is a small wardrobe in the rest area, while in 777 there only are hooks to hang your clothes (clothes hangers provided).
Hope it helps!
