So what should the co-pilot do? Pee in a bottle?
Long hours and lack of sleep seem to be part of the deal with pilots and trainee doctors...two professions where you really need the people involved to have their wits about them and not falling over with tiredness.
And the sad thing is that they have so much responsibility - the lives of people are literally at their hands. There are so many unimportant positions out there. Who actually needs the fashion and shoes industry? Or, being very strict, the
entertainment sector.
Obviously, you could be asking "Well, who really needs to fly around the world?" but then there is more to flying than it just being a means of public transport.
I really think that conditions for pilots and co-pilots need to improve and their work should be valued a lot more.