Originally Posted by
Dan Winterland
Eight years ago I wrote I would say now that in my late 50s, I may have been getting too much of that tedium and fatigue - to the point you could say I'm close to burnout. Since then, we've been working harder and the FTLs are being increasingly ignored. I used to sit on the company Fatigue Management Committee and used to hear comments such as "Sure you're working hard, but it's within the limits". I liked to point out that limits are not targets. The engines can be used at full power for five minutes on every take-off as that's in the limits too. But if the pilots started doing that, they would end up with plenty of time off while the aircraft are grounded during frequent engine changes.
Most pilot manning projections are based on all pilots working to 65. This isn't happening - most retiring from my airline are stopping well before 65 and I suspect it's the same with other airlines. I will not be flying an airliner past 60. I was were to, I would probably be dead before 65 anyhow.
I sympathise.
All I would say, is that for me, looking back, the warnings were obvious. My blood pressure started being consistently higher than it ought, taking it at home it would be for example 133/89.This was complicated by the fact that I’ve always had ‘white coat syndrome’, and frequently the Dr would have to take a reading more than once at Medical’s. I felt like there was no way out, very limited options and suffered colds, sore throats and other niggly things.
Things improved when I once again changed jobs. I played the bass guitar and I thought that would be helping any stress that I still felt. My blood pressure was still an issue, but not enough to talk about going on medication. Ironically, I remember telling my aviation Dr at my final medical, that I would prefer to lose my medical than die! Nothing came from that discussion, which I now see as yet another cry for help. I ought to have been more forceful, but denial has its comforts. I started line training with my new company, and after a couple of years moved onto sim training and checking, which I really enjoyed.
So, it came as a total surprise to me when four years on I suffered a life changing stroke on the 19th of April 2011.
Looking back, it shouldn’t have been that surprising. Also, I would now say that my stroke was a blessing. Some might find that hard to compute. It was a rude awakening, but an awakening nevertheless.
If you recognise anything I’ve talked about. Speak to a Doctor.
