Originally Posted by
TowerDog
We never learn..
Really boys and girls, on a short night stop have a cup,of tea and a light meal, sleep good and go to work next day knowing you are bullet proof.
Been there, done that and finally learned.
As far as flight safety, (for the peanut gallery, the finger pointers and the SLF) look at fatigue: A much more serious problem than some pilot showing up for work with 0.03 from a few glasses of wine with dinner the night before.
Quite a few of us can’t sleep due to time zones, bad hotels, or just having flown long-haul too many years.
Not only that but the FAA had not limit on Duty Time for international supplemental carries until recently:
Yes, you can go 40 hours with no rest and keep on flying as long as you don’t exceed 12 hours in the seat.
Many moons ago as a junior FO, I did it, not much choice shutting down the operation due to “fatigue”.
Later as a Captain I would indeed shut it down, set the parking brake and ask the company to arrange for transport to the hotel. Some guys would get fired for doing that: Pressure is on: Fly until you drop, perfectly legal, all 3 seats in the cockpit filled by zombies. Legal as can be, but hang the guy who is fresh and rested, but has 0.03 % alcohol in the blood.
The irony..
If you show up over the limit, chances are you are not fresh and rested. Alcohol has a negative impact on your sleep quality.
Fatigue is bad. Mixing alcohol with fatigue is worse. There are few easy rosters out there, we all work hard.