But JB007 you of all people should know that you are not allowed to be rostered for more than three consecutive duty days where there report is in any part of the period from 01:00 to 06:59.
So, to put all the above into context.
I'm sure that you know that I always arrive at least one hour before the rostered report. This is in order to ensure I get there on time (Nb. I drive in to Stansted from Lewes in East Sussex, and that's 88 miles), plus to facilitate the pre-flight paper-work/planning, and to ensure that I'm cool calm and collected after the M25.
Last Sunday night (New Years Eve) having gone to bed, at about 00:30, I then had a dreadful night ( I just couldn't sleep - mostly due to my little boy waking several on several occasions ) – thus I found myself wide awake and listening to the new years day Radio4 shipping forecast at 05:30.
That afternoon I had to report for a VCE (followed by BFS) at 12:30. I plan to arrive at 11:30, so I left my house at 09:45. I finished work at 22:10, and then drove home (88 miles).
Once again I had a crap night of sleep, and was thoroughly wide awake at 05:30.
On that Tuesday I had a split duty LIN, rostered to report at 18:45. I plan to arrive at 17:45 (i.e. rush hour on the motorways), so I left the house at 15:00.
Later, during the decent in to LIN they closed the airfield, for snow clearance (MXP was closed earlier too). We went into hold, nearly had to divert but the airfield opened just as we were getting close to making a decision. We eventually arrived at the hotel just in time to get the legal minimum required rest ( if you know what I mean ). Pick-up by the bus, on Wednesday morning, for the trip back to the airport is at 05:15. Arrive back at STN and finish work at 09:10, then drive home.
Thursday I was rostered to report at 06:00 for a BFS (followed by BIO). I plan to be there by 05:00, so I left my house at 03:45. I finished work at 15:10, and then drove home.
Friday I needed to report for a Lisbon flight at 08:10. I plan to arrive at 07:10, therefore I left my house at 05:15. Unfortunately prior to this, once again my little lads distress (he wet his bed) woke me up, i.e. another crap night of sleep. I finished at 15:55, and then drove home.
Saturday had to report for a Copenhagen at 0615, so planned to be there at 05:15, I left the house at 03:45 which, for various reasons, meant I’d only been able to get 4 hours of shut-eye. I finished work at 12:00, and then drove home.
Yes ! this was a six day working day week, most strange, but probably due to some roster ‘loading’ prior to my leave.
Don't get me wrong, I don't particularly mind the drive ( and I've certainly done it enough times to know - i.e. 26,000+ miles in the last 12 months alone ).
However I’m sure that even the most hardy amongst us will agree, that when coupled with a disturbed sleep pattern, this can take its toll on ones mental fortitude - the Latin for it is fatigare - which is something you'll surely agree with JB007, living as you do darn’sarf and working as you did with me at Stansted.
Ps. My ‘rant’ above, for which I ask some forgiveness, was made at 22:28 – i.e. I’d been awake on that day for over 19 hours; after six day in which I’d driven 880 miles, operated 14 sectors, and had had probably only 34 hours of decent sleep. zzzzzzzzzzzzzzz