AC Long haul guys/gals

[Old fella]

Thought I would ask this one. Last evening after supper I was sitting out on my deck(living in the Maritimes) sipping a Disaronno on ice , being part of the cosmic awareness and in casting my eyes to the heavens, I saw plenty of the heavy iron heading eastbound over to Europe or points in that direction, actually many were almost directly over my house. So I took out the trusty binoculars and started to have a gawk at all those B767/777/A330 and the like. Didn't see either B747 nor A340 - dam, I kinda like those birds, they look like real airplanes with their four engines. I am even old enough to remember seeing the Super Connies, DC-7, etc heading eastbound as well. If you are still with me, here is the question. Is there any such thing as a most enjoyable area to fly for the long haul. Do many have a preference, like the Atlantic vs. Pacific or I hate South America flying etc. I know a lot depends on your seniority, aircraft types, your own personal lifestyle. Even amongst different pilots like some Captains don't like the pacific but is flying with an F/O who enjoys it and of course vice versa Captains who love flying the Atlantic but the F/O indicated this isn't his/her cup of tea........

[JayDee]

I personally like the Pacific long haul flying because you work fewer days per month and you have relief pilots on board because of the length of the flights.

IMO the hardest flying is to & from Europe with only 2 pilots. Very tiring when you do it on average 5 times a month close to11 months of the year.

[Solaris]

I totally agree with JayDee on preferring long haul Pacific flying for several reasons. As he mentioned, it is much more productive, in a three day period, you can get in 26, 28 or even 30 hrs of flight time as opposed to 15, 17 or a bit more for Tel Aviv and now Athens. Due to the extra long duty period, we have a bunk break which is fantastic, really helps a lot.
Now as far as the Flight Attendants go, there are many more of us on the 777, 16 on a Shanghai, so for a total of 349 pax, (777-300) that is a ratio of 1 F/A per 21 pax. On the Barcelona I just worked, only 6 F/A's for 240 pax,,,,that is the max of 1 per 40, that is a huge difference.

The jet lag seems to be worse flying over to Europe too, we miss a nights sleep going over, try to sleep when we arrive at the hotel, pry ourselves out of bed mid afternoon and feel like crap, walk around, sightsee, go for drinks and dinner then off to bed again.
When we wake up the next morning, due to the time difference, it is usually around midnight, one or two a.m our time so we basically miss another nights sleep again. Arrive home around noon or mid afternoon and it's do I take a nap (and ruin my sleep tonight) or stay up and feel like a zombie.

Now you could say, well why don't you fly domestic or transborder,,,,na,,,,too boring, I can't stand "buy on board" (selling food), and you would have to go to work way more often in order to get your hours in. Besides, it's much more fun to have Peking duck in Beijing and go to a tapas bar in Spain, not to mention,,,,,great shopping

Hope this answers your question Old Fella

[eightzeroummmseven]

Wow, good on you for being able to handle that lifestyle. Has there been any studies on the long term health impact of constant jet lag and circadian disruptions?

I will be much more understanding when faced with a snarky f/a next time.

[eightzeroummmseven]

Did some research and not to scare you but you may not want to stay on the long haul routes for your career for health reasons.

Looks like it will increase your cortisol (stress hormone) levels, increased risk of experiencing cardiovascular, gastrointestinal, and reproductive dysfunction, more prone to developing clinical depression, increased cancer growth, and it will shorten your lifespan.
There is also a correlation between sleep and proper immune function, so insomnia related to jet lag may increase susceptibility to infection.

[Solaris]

Thanks very much for your concern 80um7, you bring up some very valid points indeed !!!!

I tried to see if flying to South America would be any better and although fun,,,,wasn't much better.

I'll keep in mind what you said,,,,

P.S. Grumpy f/a's you say,,,,no such thing,,,LOL,,

[4Stroke]

Has there been any studies on the long term health impact of constant jet lag and circadian disruptions?

Twenty minutes later.....

Did some research and not to scare you but you may not want to stay on the long haul routes for your career for health reasons.

WOW I am impressed with your speedy research skills!!!


nyuck nyuck nyuck

[Old fella]

[quote="

Looks like it will increase your cortisol (stress hormone) levels, increased risk of experiencing cardiovascular, gastrointestinal, and reproductive dysfunction, more prone to developing clinical depression, increased cancer growth, and it will shorten your lifespan.
There is also a correlation between sleep and proper immune function, so insomnia related to jet lag may increase susceptibility to infection.[/quote]


Same stuff will inflict you when working for the Government aka TC, so I guess I am in the same risk factor. Then again at least you(long haul drivers) get to go to exotic places, fly good airplanes, stay at decent hotels and experience different cusine and wash it down with classified vintages. Oh... and probably have some pretty ladies to work with.

[conehead]

I work in AC Maintenance, and several of us have had the same thought when meeting the crews coming off the 777 long haul flights from the far east; that is, the pilots look really old. I don't mean this to be rude or insulting, but I know that the maximum age these guys can be is 60. But some of them look like they could easily be in their 70's... seriously. I'm no spring chicken myself, being 50, so I can usually judge another guys age pretty close if he's in his 50's. Screwing up one's circadium rhythm all those years can't be too healthy.

Again, I do not mean this to be insulting. Just an observation...

[eightzeroummmseven]

Twenty minutes later.....
WOW I am impressed with your speedy research skills!!!
nyuck nyuck nyuck

Google is a powerful tool. I expected there to be some resistance to the idea that your job might be contributing to a shortened life span. No one wants to hear that if they are happy in their little shell. But it still valid information. Note: Most of the studies I read were using mice not humans. Maybe the human body is more resilient? I wouldn't count on it though.

[Johnny767]

I work in AC Maintenance, and several of us have had the same thought when meeting the crews coming off the 777 long haul flights from the far east; that is, the pilots look really old. I don't mean this to be rude or insulting, but I know that the maximum age these guys can be is 60. But some of them look like they could easily be in their 70's... seriously. I'm no spring chicken myself, being 50, so I can usually judge another guys age pretty close if he's in his 50's. Screwing up one's circadium rhythm all those years can't be too healthy.

Again, I do not mean this to be insulting. Just an observation...

That is a fair observation, conehead. You can always pick out the Overseas Guys in Flight Planning - they are the ash colored complexion, white haired, old before their time...Pilots.

Contrary to popular opinion, it isn't an easy life style.

Even on Domestic - if you are Vancouver based, operating the "O6:00 Departure" from St John's NL.

...or the young guy building time flying Medivacs in the middle of the night.

It beats ya up a bit.

[rudder]

Lots of research confirms that disrupted circadian rythms accelerate the breakdown at the cellular level which is normally associated with the aging process. Stress at the cellular level is as detrimental as stress at the conscious level, but often goes unnoticed until it is too late.

[yycflyguy]

I work in AC Maintenance, and several of us have had the same thought when meeting the crews coming off the 777 long haul flights from the far east; that is, the pilots look really old. I don't mean this to be rude or insulting, but I know that the maximum age these guys can be is 60. But some of them look like they could easily be in their 70's... seriously. I'm no spring chicken myself, being 50, so I can usually judge another guys age pretty close if he's in his 50's. Screwing up one's circadium rhythm all those years can't be too healthy.

Again, I do not mean this to be insulting. Just an observation...

Just wait til the flypast60s come back... the gate agents will have to wheel down 3 chairs just to get the crew off the plane.

[Samson]

Don't forget what that ultra-low humidity pressurized cabin air does to the body as well. A couple years of that and your face will look like an old catcher's mitt. I can imagine what it does to your body internally.

[Old fella]

Don't forget what that ultra-low humidity pressurized cabin air does to the body as well. A couple years of that and your face will look like an old catcher's mitt. I can imagine what it does to your body internally.

Are there other external items of concern, you know that portion of the male anatomy in which shrinkage is an issue of utmost importance, and as well, said anatomy's ability to reach it's elevated/ perpendicular state on command. To us males, this is of grave concern as we have a unfretted tendency to let "it" do most of our thinking, so we (males) have been told.

[Solaris]

I hear they have a little blue pill for that sort of thing Old Fella

[Old fella]

I hear they have a little blue pill for that sort of thing Old Fella

............ another item the Fly Past 60 AC pilots can argue for due their "degraded performance" in that regard with all the high level flying. Think AC Mgt will bite on that..... pardon the pun

[OceansEdge]

I hear they have a little blue pill for that sort of thing Old Fella

............ another item the Fly Past 60 AC pilots can argue for due their "degraded performance" in that regard with all the high level flying. Think AC Mgt will bite on that..... pardon the pun

Unless you're John Glenn

[Old fella]

I hear they have a little blue pill for that sort of thing Old Fella

............ another item the Fly Past 60 AC pilots can argue for due their "degraded performance" in that regard with all the high level flying. Think AC Mgt will bite on that..... pardon the pun

Unless you're John Glenn

..... or John C Holmes!!!!

[S-Critical Haircut]

.

[Johnny767]

One "Delete" ....deserves "Another."

Cheers

[Old fella]

Supplementary question. How do you long haul guys/gals occupy your time on those long flights( obviously you can't tell tales) but can you haul out a novel or a mag to read, how about the Globe or the Star. Are you permitted to plug in your iPod with your scarffed tunes from The Pirate bay. Not supposed to nap( bet it does happen), only so much coffee you can down. With a mix of male/female upfront crew, one assumes the male side has to be careful with the off color humour, no blonde jokes and the "hangar stories(single tooth Mary and the service she provided on the Lab Coast)" have to be kept inside there.............. also with mixed company, raising your leg to uncork a fart is frowned upon, I guess. What about the 60-65 old goats, what are they like to be around on long haul

[Lost in Saigon]

Supplementary question. How do you long haul guys/gals occupy your time on those long flights( obviously you can't tell tales) but can you haul out a novel or a mag to read, how about the Globe or the Star. Are you permitted to plug in your iPod with your scarffed tunes from The Pirate bay. Not supposed to nap( bet it does happen), only so much coffee you can down. With a mix of male/female upfront crew, one assumes the male side has to be careful with the off color humour, no blonde jokes and the "hangar stories(single tooth Mary and the service she provided on the Lab Coast)" have to be kept inside there.............. also with mixed company, raising your leg to uncork a fart is frowned upon, I guess. What about the 60-65 old goats, what are they like to be around on long haul

I have been doing 767 long haul for about 10 years and have seen all of the above. You are supposed to keep yourself busy doing ATC, fuel checks, company position reports, etc.

Most guys also read the paper (checking destination Wx forecast), do crossword puzzles or Sudoku (keeps the mind sharp) , do chart amendments, read a book, or just chat with each other about anything under the sun.

Sleeping IS allowed under the "Controlled Rest" rules.

Some guys (not many) will even go as far as listening to Ipods, or even watching movies on their laptops.

[Mig29]

I'm very glad to see these topic as many of you have said some very wise things about airline flying in general, especially long haul stuff!

It's sad though that a lot of people out there don't "see" these things when they sign up for this career, or try coming face to face with the reality. It's easier I guess on the mind....

But next time some one asks you why you guys work "ONLY" 75hr a month and make "HUGE" bucks tell them why!!

And let's not forget the safety/responsibility side as well..

Hats off to all of you folks

ps. yycflyguy that pic is just disturbing my friend, I won't sleep for nights now!