You really believe the CAD will listen to pilots. Hong Kong is BUSINESS run and if it will benefit business and Hong Kong as a whole, it will be put through. No employees will dictate business practices in Hong Kong as much as some may wish.
Safety takes a second seat, but we do preach safety first. Makes us look good.
It will only affect routes to Europe (flights under the 14-15 hours). Your North American brothers will not care if you fly those hours with 3 person crew. I will not debate the integrity of the pilot body as I have mentions this before. Well on second thought, why not. You are too busy back stabbing each other and some on their own individual agenda, you cannot be seen as a collective group. No one will fight as it is seen as sticking your head above the parapet and everyone lives in fear hoping that someone else will do the fighting for you. Ahh, never gets old does it.
To make one feel more secure, the CAD will be allowing in seat controlled naps which will help pilots with sleep. There are numerous studies and are available on the net for your pursual.
There are numerous airlines that do this to Hong Kong from European departures and return.
We have tracked the many times that Captains have used section 24.7 of the AFTL’s (which will allow duty times of 15 hours with 3 person crew back to Hong Kong). If this practice of 15 hours duty to Hong Kong, then it should not make any difference from Hong Kong. Our Freighter and passenger pilots already do this to Anchorage and to Auckland. Now we will just continue it to Europe.
We like to thank the many Captains that exercised this option as this has paved the way for the new 3 person ULH flights.
In this situation, the commander is only expected to use 2 hours of his discretion on the whole crew. We think the 2 hour limit will be enough to cover any delays.
You really think the pilots of other airlines will get involved, I think not. It’s just the way pilots are.
From the top of my bonus, I thank you.
The Management.