Wirraway
29th Jun 2004, 15:46
Wed "Sydney Morning Herald"
Long-haul flights test air crew standards
June 30, 2004
Record-setting non-stop flights from Singapore to Los Angeles and New York have led to new flight crew standards to ensure that pilots stay alert, aviation regulators said yesterday.
Singapore Airlines (SIA) on Monday launched the longest non-stop commercial flight in history, an 18-hour service to New York using Newark airport.
This broke a record which SIA itself had set only in February when it started a 16-hour Los Angeles direct service.
Both were made possible by the development of the ultra-long-range Airbus A340-500 jetliner.
The Civil Aviation Authority of Singapore (CAAS) said yesterday that flight crew data were being collected on both services to see if rules governing ultra long-range flights had to be fine-tuned. Final reports are expected next year.
The authority said that in most countries, current rules limit pilots' flight duties at 18 hours, including actual flight time and the period they have to be at the airport before and after a flight.
While actual flight studies are still being done, provisional rules have already been implemented.
Each ultra long-range flight must have four pilots, with at least two commanding pilots with the rank of captain.
Pilots are given two rest periods during the flight in individual compartments, and must undergo special training including guidelines on sleep physiology, alertness management and counter-fatigue measures, the CAAS said.
AFP
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Long-haul flights test air crew standards
June 30, 2004
Record-setting non-stop flights from Singapore to Los Angeles and New York have led to new flight crew standards to ensure that pilots stay alert, aviation regulators said yesterday.
Singapore Airlines (SIA) on Monday launched the longest non-stop commercial flight in history, an 18-hour service to New York using Newark airport.
This broke a record which SIA itself had set only in February when it started a 16-hour Los Angeles direct service.
Both were made possible by the development of the ultra-long-range Airbus A340-500 jetliner.
The Civil Aviation Authority of Singapore (CAAS) said yesterday that flight crew data were being collected on both services to see if rules governing ultra long-range flights had to be fine-tuned. Final reports are expected next year.
The authority said that in most countries, current rules limit pilots' flight duties at 18 hours, including actual flight time and the period they have to be at the airport before and after a flight.
While actual flight studies are still being done, provisional rules have already been implemented.
Each ultra long-range flight must have four pilots, with at least two commanding pilots with the rank of captain.
Pilots are given two rest periods during the flight in individual compartments, and must undergo special training including guidelines on sleep physiology, alertness management and counter-fatigue measures, the CAAS said.
AFP
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