mm43;
It was the PNF who said he had dozed and returned to the cockpit at about 0200
and took the LHS. The PF had been in the RHS from departure Rio de Janeiro. Your
comment regarding sleep inertia is still relevant as it could well
explain the PNF's lack of positive action over the next few minutes.
Thanks! Yes, it was the PNF. I should re-read all three reports to refresh my memory of these things.
Not to divert discussion but I think sleep inertia has not been sufficiently addressed as a long-haul/ultra-long haul matter. It is not just a crewing matter, (as in crewing with four pilots vs three, etc).
I think sleep inertia was at work here. Along with the usual examinations of the crews' activities & sleep patterns prior to the cycle and during the layover, this phenomenon needs more focus in this report as well as generally in research.
The 2011 pitch-down incident involving a B767 on the Atlantic is enough to cause wider examination of the matter no matter how caused of course, (bunk time or controlled rest on the flight deck).
The issue has been demonstrated and airlines can no longer ignore its effects.