OK, so Ramadan is just around the corner. I've been in Dubai a fair few number of years now but still not clear about a couple of things with reference to drinking water in public during Ramadan:
1. Sport - For example having completed a run around safa park or a long swim outside, its morning and you are nowhere near home, is it acceptable to drink water to rehydrate?
2. Work - EK has been going on recently about keeping hydrated at work, there has been some stuff on the portal about it, so during Ramadan what are rules for the engineers / ground crew who are out in the heat? I haven't seen any EK ruling on this yet?
3. Work - Flight and Cabin Crew. Due to flight safety they are not supposed to fast, has EK come out with anything about this yet?
You've been here a few years and need to ask those questions?
1. Not acceptable to rehydrate in public.
2. Discreetly out of the public eye, and so as not to offend Muslim colleagues is ok. This is normally done in the office, or on board with respect to ground crew/ engineers.
3. OK for crew, to be made up in lieu of fasting after Ramadan. Many choose not to so they can celebrate with friends over Eidd.
1) No it's not acceptable. Some guys really get annoyed, happened to me before.
2) I don't work in EK but I am Muslim and know that it isn't cumplosary for guys to fast when their jobs are hectic like that. Don't even reckon it be safe for an engineer or mechanic to fast during Ramadan.
3) Again I don't work in EK but I doubt the airline will come up with something to encourage Muslims not to fast, however most don't, and like I said early, it isn't compulsory nor is it recommended IMO as it can impair safety.
You should have known better by now. Offer us alcohol, invite us to poker games, to parties, women, never offer us pork
Safety critical personnel should be banned outright from fasting, it IS dangerous. I have had to operate with crew who refused to drink even a sip of water on a long multi sector day. About time the regulators did something about it.
I don't know why there is such a fuss made of this topic every year. A human being can quite comfortably live through a period of about 16 hours without eating or drinking. He will not drop down dead. He will not suddenly be unable to make decisions. It's not as if the person doesn't eat or drink for days, weeks or months.
I agree with Fatbus, I offloaded a fasting FO he said he had been up half the night and was not going to drink all the way to London! never heard any more. Was a while back though. gcc, read your Q book, it does not prohibit pork, it says not recommended! As when it was written there was no refrigeration and we all know it goes off quick . Similar with booze, don't use it as an excuse to commit a crime.
Should a fasting crew member be PF during daylight hours?
NG I asked that question a few years back while on a layover in London in a conversation with some crew at brekkie in the lead up to Ramadan.
The purser (Egyptian ) reported me to the chief pilot for my comments when i suggested that it was not safe to have two operating crew fasting for 20 hours on a ulr flight to new York for example.
I received a warning letter from said chief pilot.
Ex 380.... now why doesn't that little gem not surprise me, I ask them if they are fasting, and if its a long 10 hour day I give them a choice, fly and eat or stay home. So far its been positive.
There is nothing but punitive jeopardy lurking in the background with certain nationalities as you experienced.
Due to flight safety they are not supposed to fast, has EK come out with anything about this yet
Having been here a while, you should know they have said two things that cover this topic:
"Respect" their culture, and The captain is responsible for everything that goes wrong.
Capt Stains, You need to read between the lines and manage the situation as appropriate. The best result is always the one that they don't find out about. Job done.
Maybe you already know this and your topic is just flame-bait. If so..., on, on!
Guys, you really made laugh, I'm gonna ask you a simple question, can you notice someone fasting out of the month of ramadan of course not so please let your hatred at home and stop making stupid comments about fasting specially when it comes to month of ramadan every year the same stupid comments.
Islam is a religion that has many facets to a lot of people. I accept that there are many who are ignorant, or choose to be ignorant to this religion.
There are many reasons for this but the major bias for many is down to the minority of your own people who have taken Islam as an excuse to destroy and terrorize thousands of lives. These extremists are what's giving muslims and their religion a bad press. Unfortunately, even innocent Muslim men,women and children are victims of these mindless acts of terrorism.
What is disappointing, however, is when educated people of any faith feel that people should bend over backwards and accommodate them purely for their religious beliefs. I respect a persons right to believe and to act in a certain way providing that does not impinge negatively on my life. If a Chief Pilot were to give me a warning because I expressed an opinion, I'd find that offensive in that I should be free to express my own views.
No religion should become so over bearing that you can never express an educated view, whether it be positive or negative. No religion should become so powerful that its own rules and beliefs supersede those of the law of the land. No religion should ever be so consuming that innocent people can be justifiably murdered because of insulting comments or actions.
Respect is a two way street and should be mutual. When it is, you may find it reciprocated more liberally.
In the meantime, I do sincerely wish you and all my muslim friends Ramadan Kareem.
Harry
Last edited by harry the cod; 23rd Jul 2012 at 20:13.
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