Censorship is alive and well on Pprune.
I've been using them for decades as mentioned and on departure from the UK on several occasions I can stay awake when others can't because I'm assured of a decent sleep beforehand.
I don't know if you are long haul but consider the scenario of where you start at midnight for a 14 hr flight after being unable to get a decent sleep prior. When it comes to your turn for crew rest you run into continuous mod. turbulence, happens all the time. You don't sleep then either, subsequently you arrive at the other end feeling as if you couldn't ride a bicycle let alone fly an aircraft.
Can I venture to suggest that responsible use is far preferable and more responsible than arriving at the other end in a fatigued state? It's only required occasionally not every flight.
I don't suffer any side effects and wake up feeling I'm ready for work.
Halcion is approved for use but not within a few hours of flying. I could look it up but I can't be bothered because you don't approve anyway.
Despite dire warnings of things that are going to happen to me from time to time I'm as fit as anyone my age when many have fallen by the wayside and either retired, switched to short-haul or lost their licence after inability to endure duties that can induce severe fatigue if not well rested.
Crew are responsible individuals and probably don't require a lecture, especially in view of the fact that you've never tried them.
Experts pontificate all the time about fatigue, drugs, fatigue reports, fatigue mitigation etc but it's often those without much experience of it. Which reminds of an incident that took place many years ago when our cabin crew complained of excessive fatigue on some long haul sectors.
The company doctor was assigned to fly these sectors and report back. After travelling half way around the world and back in first class he reported that he was feeling OK and there didn't appears to be a problem.
But as you say, each to his own.
Last edited by skol; 15th May 2009 at 22:21.