Originally Posted by
Capt Colonial
Well, there’s the crunch Galdian. It varies significantly dependent on individuals and factors such as age, previous flight status (cumulative fatigue) and health!
Two local nights (over a 48hour period) usually give two-nights (probable) rest and recovery, theoretically.
However, with New York City, one is well and truly out of one’s Time Zone so if you don’t get to sleep, one is totally “mashed” to operate! And that’s two-crew currently, in congested airspace!
Rest wise, it can be the same with crews in SCL, LON and the same in JNB.
Generally, 48 hours (two full local nights) and its time to go. As a lot of the SCL crews find extended time in-country doesn’t really help, in fact, it makes it harder to get a sound sleep.
Some of the Pilots stay on SYD time which they say works for them though a tad-anti social and dis-connected.
KLM maintained some years ago that it was better to get out of Dodge and head-home ASAP on LH Flight Patterns.
I personally believe the magic number is around 48 hours (encompassing 2 local nights) however schedules just don’t give that option all the time.
With what Qantas is allegedly proposing in Project Sunrise, as SYD-LON and SYD-JFK, there is to date, only a very uncertain and vague outline without any known data to draw upon regarding rest. The Regulator the Pilot Unions and the Pilots themselves would want to progress very cautiously with whatever is agreed. If it's agreed!
I'd posit 48-60hrs as a good window
Longer the benefit reduces and makes the home turn worse.