Post Long Haul Fug
But finally, give in to it! If you are hungry, eat. If you feel tired, don't fight it, sleep.
Which is one reason why crew have always demanded First Class Hotels, not because they want to be Prima Donnas ( tho' there's always some who do !! ) but need a dark, quiet room with access to room service, or a 24 hr. Coffee Shop, within the hotel.
Actually easier away than at home, where school runs and other cast-in-concrete timetables have to be re-adjusted to.
The principle of 2 'local' nights rest after an Atlantic crossing ensured that one started the return trip back from the USA totally knackered, not enough time to adjust, yet long enough to become screwed up. One day, shock horror ! management suggested that one would return on the early morning flight after the day before's arrival. Because of this totally ridiculous idea, it was decided that only 'management' Captains would operate these flights, as a trial. Unfortunately 'ordinary' co-pilots and engineers had no such choice, and I was rostered accordingly, turning up muttering and grumbling etc.
In practice it worked a treat. Work it out - dep. UK in the morning after a good nights' normal sleep, some 8-9 hours duty day to arrive in New York around 7.00 pm UK time, which meant of course that one then went to bed around 4-5.oo pm New York time, which wasn't normal of course, but was quite possible - if one missed out all the shopping and boozing.
Wake up really early in New York for leisurely breakfast and set off back to the airport for a 10.00 departure ( NY ) and arrive back in UK around 9.00 pm the day after departure, go home, go to bed never having left UK time.
Worked a charm - course, don't tell BASSA or Unite, and of course there was no time for shopping at Macy's or whatever.
Glad I don't have that problem any more.
Enjoy.
