Up in smoke

[Iso]

A airline crew member was caught smoking in the toilets recently on a long haul flight. It really makes you wonder what he was thinking at the time.

Or is there an even greater deep seated problem of people going through extreme withdrawal symptoms that they will resort to this.

I have often wondered how chronic or heavy smokers cope with long haul flights and I am of the opinion that some degree of air rage, offensive behaviour is the result of this withdrawal.

I myself advocate a smokeless environment but I am also greatly concerned by those individuals, particularly crew, that MUST have a cigarette at least every hour and the potential effect upon their work performance, when they go without.

Please, some thoughts on this subject. I know alot of people avoid it, but it is a problem.

[mainwheel]

I remember when you could buy cigarettes on a flight.I am a smoker and don't really have a problem with not smoking on flights.I will say that it was a joy some 4 years ago to be able to smoke on air france 747 flight,par-hkg.They had the rl door area curtained off and a vent valve fitted.I had 3 smokes on the 12 hr flight.Just enough to keep the nico fix at bay.I think airlines should look at an option,especially for crew.Good point!

[Bob Hawke]

Any hint as to which airline it was, seems that it might be a practise in a number of them.

[411A]

Well, when smoking is not allowed, just why would a crew member decide for themselves that this policy does not apply to them?. .Recall years ago, at the parking bay at FCO, a hostie came up to the flight deck and asked me if she could smoke. When I told her that this was NOT permitted at FCO, she went in the back and lit up anyway.. .Noticed by a cleaner, and the cleaner mentioned same to the airport police, she was arrested, and went to jail for three days. The company was not ammused...and she was fired.. .Crew members need to realise that policy is policy, whether they like it or not...and many won't. <img border="0" title="" alt="[Roll Eyes]" src="rolleyes.gif" />

[Bob Hawke]

Yes, apparently the word is out, as to who it might be, and I cannot say, but it has been brought to the attention of management. Personally I think it's incredibly stupid.

[Argentomagus]

If you smoke before, or worse, during a flight, you are destroying your performance due to hypoxia like phenomenons. The carbon monoxide hooks up with the hemoglobin with so much force, takin the place of the oxygen and staying there for hours.. .This has an effect that "climbs" your body to 6 to 8000 feet. WHen your airplane has a cabin altitude of 7 to 8OOO feet, because of your cigarette induced advance, your body is at 12 to 16 thousand. Hence the tremendous loss of performance.. .Obviously not a good idea and not acceptable.. .. .If one is medicaly "hooked" to nicotine, other problems occur. When beeing deprived of your legal drug, your performance decreases, among other reasons because of the increased nervosity and aggresivity caused by the craving.. .. .SO what can be done ?. .Short term solution : Use nicotine replacements that do not shoot you up with carbon monoxide before and during the flight.. .. .Long term solution : Get medical assistance to efficiently become unhooked of this legal drug.. .. .Ideas and infos: It is my understanding that some major European airlines will not offer you a job if you are a smoker. At the same time, they offer medicaly assisted programs to help their smoking crewmembers getting cured.. .In my small company, smoking on the job is ground for immediate dismissal.

[Iso]

Unfortunately, it's the accepted as standard practise to smoke on the flightdeck in Asia, and the not the reverse.

[Last-Samurai]

Smoker(s) must have the welfare of those Non-Smoker(s) and Fare-Paying Pax in-mind. <img border="0" title="" alt="[Roll Eyes]" src="rolleyes.gif" />

[Bob Hawke]

Ya, Cap. Smoky just got a warn letter, just shows yous how far the boots go up. Any one else and they would be smoked out by now. Pathetic how it was handled.:mad:

[Big Kahuna]

Glad this is all we have to talk about...big deal.