Fasting on the job
 

Hi,

I was just wondering how the Muslim airline pilots out there cope during Ramadhan. How does fasting affect your job? Do you fast whilst flying?

big problem
 

How irritable are you after a long duty day, with no food or drink......it is very dangerous......

It is my understanding (and my experience) that Muslim pilots on duty are allowed to eat and drink normally until they come off duty.

So Muslims are exempted from fasting whilst flying? I guess this kind of question would be more appropriate in an Islamic related forum.. but I was hoping for replies from some Muslim pilots. :)

Thanks for the replies.

Some fast, some don't.
It really is that simple.

Those that do fast however tend to doze off from time to time...altho usually not at the outer marker.:}

Flying at SV many years ago during Ramadan the First Officer asked if I could fly lower, so the sun will set sooner.
Sure, says I, and we descend to 16,000 feet.
You would be surprised at how fast the Lockheed tri-motor Hoovers up fuel at this altitude...at the barber pole.:cool:

Whatever keeps the troops happy.:rolleyes:

Agree with the spoon.

A person at the controls of machinery of any kind, is unfit to operate safely if food and drink at the appropiate times of day, are denyed.

Basically they are allowed to eat provided that they make up the fasting day on a different date. Most of them around here, fast for the whole of Ramadan or go sick !

Mutt

Agree with 411A. Some do and some don't i.e. they defer their fasting until a later, more convenient time. No-one forces us to eat and drink while on duty (or operating machinery), however on a long flight with multi-crew, it would be sensible for the fasting pilot not to be at the controls for landing , if at all possible. No-one said it would be easy!

Hypoglycaemia and Fasting
 

I would refuse to fly with, or be flown by, a pilot who was fasting. The main source of fuel for the human brain is sugar. Fasting causes hypogycaemia, or low blood sugar. This may be manifested as any of the following - weakness, dizziness, hunger, confusion, drowsiness, headaches, irritability, trembling, sweating, rapid heart beat, and a cold, clammy feeling - scarcely a fit state for flying an aircraft :mad:

Anybody's first solo spring to mind? :}

aw,

fair point :}

However, I'd hope they weren't doing it with a few hundred passengers sitting in the back - that only happens in the movies doesn't it :)

No, I'm aware of UK scheduled operators where this has gone on. In my mind it is entirely unacceptable, and pilots who need to carry on these rituals should take annual leave, and ensure that they are fully fit and back to a normal routine of noursihment prior to flying.

Gee.. and for christians it´s strictly forbidden to even covet their neighbours wives, let alone making out with them. So mere existence of STDs, let alone their spread in predominantly christian countries boggles my innocent mind:E

But let´s go back to topic:

If you fly you´re not allowed to fast.

If you want to fast, you take the month off.

Simple as that.

I did in the end look it up, and in Islam, one is excused from fasting whilst travelling (so this includes flying of course), and they can make it up at another date. So I'm guessing Muslim pilots follow this rule and defer their fasts (I would hope so at least, in the interests of safety).

Got what I needed to know, thanks.

yes,muslims can defer their 'puasa' to another date..a more approprate time for them..the reason why they are not doing this is because they feel not 'comfortable' when everyone else is eating while you cannot..so they prefer to puasa while undertaking their flying duties..which endangers the lives of a few hundred people,as well as your own life..this is a deadly sin and it will lead you to the path of hell..well whatever you might want to believe in..:E

Fasting ? What about even your basic dieting.....
 

Seriously, I have worked alongside more than a few people on one of these trendy low-carb diets. Besides the obvious (and quite serious) brain-starved-for-glucose poor function (that can be readily demonstrated), the lack of nutrition often leads to headaches and extreme grouchiness for many more. :ouch: