planemad2, you don't seem to realise that you are running around in ever decreasing circles (to finally disappear up your own fundamental orifice
) and are countering your
own argument by using your heroes - the America West pilots - as examples.
Obviously even they understood the need for nourishment by going into the terminals to buy food.
If the truth's known, they probably ate the crew meal(s) provided PLUS the extras they bought.
Now read back through the thread and you'll see that the reason employers should provide crew meals is to ENSURE that the pilots have sustenance
available for the times when it is simply not possible - for a variety of reasons....lack of time between turn-arounds, non-availability of food at turnaround stations....for the crew to obtain meals.
However don't try to justify it as a medical requirement.
It is not being "justified" as a medical
requirement, but as a
SAFETY requirement, based on
proven medical evidence of the debilitating effects of low blood sugar level on performance.
In fact,
greybeard raised a very valid point when he mentioned the Muslim pilots who fast during the daylight hours of Ramadan.
I too have flown with the pilots (and F/A's) who chose to do this, and there most definitely is a NOTICEABLE loss of performance on their part, esp. in the afternoons, when they had been without food for about 7 or 8 hours, and more.
(And no, this is not having a "go" at Muslims, as there is a dispensation for them, if they elect to take it.)
Back to
TNO - the case of ground-based personnel was discussed previously. Quite simply,
at any time they can down tools and shoot off to somewhere to grab some food.