Commercial pilots eating in flight
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Join Date: Feb 2018
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Commercial pilots eating in flight
Does this happen on trips to the north sea oil rigs and back with 2 pilots for example? From what I've seen the routes are 60-90 minutes each way so it's probably not necessary
In the UK are there mandatory breaks after so many hours flying for refreshments when working single pilot, say load lifting?
I have a minor peanut allergy, with a report from an allergy specialist who said I can fly solo no problem but the AME has given me an OSL (OML equivalent). So my thinking is, no eating in flight = 0% chance of any issues. (pax eating around me is no problem)
I'm trying to word a letter to appeal to the CAA..
I would have posted this in the medical section but I'm only interested in helicopter ops.
Thanks for any help!
In the UK are there mandatory breaks after so many hours flying for refreshments when working single pilot, say load lifting?
I have a minor peanut allergy, with a report from an allergy specialist who said I can fly solo no problem but the AME has given me an OSL (OML equivalent). So my thinking is, no eating in flight = 0% chance of any issues. (pax eating around me is no problem)
I'm trying to word a letter to appeal to the CAA..
I would have posted this in the medical section but I'm only interested in helicopter ops.
Thanks for any help!
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In the offshore world, there is something called "sterile cockpit procedures"-it usually means that there is no action allowed other the ones necessary for the safe conduction of the flight....
This usually applies below 5000 ft (or whatever is specified in the Ops Manual).
But i consider it very bad airmanship if a pilot eats during the flight (except for long distance flights, of course)...
This usually applies below 5000 ft (or whatever is specified in the Ops Manual).
But i consider it very bad airmanship if a pilot eats during the flight (except for long distance flights, of course)...
Thinks have changed a bit since I was on the North Sea. The early morning trips to the Thistle were rewarded with the biggest breakfasts ever.
My company used to provide the meal trays and knaffling spanners for our helicopter crews.
My company used to provide the meal trays and knaffling spanners for our helicopter crews.
I would assume rig meals are still a normal part of North Sea ops. I was there at a similar time to FED, and flew with him, and round trips to the East Shetland Basin with RR refuel in Sumburgh each way could easily be over 7 hours. Even shorter flights like the Beryl (4:15?) or Brae (3:45) would be tied to another flight, the total hours would be quite high. So getting a decent full fried was the main attraction!! In the Southern North Sea it was bacon and egg rolls in the morning - much shorter sectors but still back to back trips could add up to several hours.
Last edited by 212man; 29th Sep 2018 at 14:16.
I would assume to meslsxste still a normal part of North Sea ops. I was there at a similar time to FED, and flew with him, and round trips to the East Shetland Basin with RR refuel in Sumburgh each way could easily be over 7 hours. Even shorter flights like the Beryl (4:15?) or Brae (3:45) would be tied to another flight, the total hours would be quite high. So getting a decent full fried was the main attraction!! In the Southern North Sea it was bacon and egg rolls in the morning - much shorter sectors but still back to back trips could add up to several hours.
You seemed to omit the lovely nosh served up in Nigeria!
You seemed to omit the lovely nosh served up in Nigeria!
I remember my ole instructor Buck Ryan forcing me to peel Oranges for both of us to eat on Navex flights during my student Pilot days, so legs wrapped around the Cyclic. Taught You many skills like both hands for folding maps on surprise diversions etc. 
But i consider it very bad airmanship if a pilot eats during the flight (except for long distance flights, of course)...
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The Boys on the Clyde produced breakfasts that would kill a civvie!
However this reminds me of Mike Tingles chocolate eclair story............the best HOFO food anecdote ever.
However this reminds me of Mike Tingles chocolate eclair story............the best HOFO food anecdote ever.
I remember picking up a bunch of miserable looking bears from a platform on a non-scheduled flight. As they boarded the HLO also provide plated meals which we scoffed (in turns) as soon as we could after departure. Only after we had finished did one of the pax reach forward and hand us a piece of paper - It was a note from the Offshore Medic to his doctor advising that he and multiple others had been suffering from a severe outbreak of food poisoning (Hence the extra flight ) which should be investigated immediately! Thanks for telling us in good time boys!
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If you don’t eat in flight flying offshore, you won’t eat! Generally done in the cruise so regularly 2000 feet inbound. Other pilot manages aircraft and radios. Once one done, swap around! No time on turnarounds which may be rotors run.
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If you don’t eat in flight flying offshore, you won’t eat!
I watched a captain one day spill a nice chicken curry all over his nicely pressed white shirt in the cruise!, I just lifted my eyebrows looked over and smiled as he carried on with the expletives, was very funny indeed.
Late seventies. A British Airways Helicopter doing a double to the Claymore. After leaving the Claymore on the first one the crew complained to the radio operator that a sandwich wasn't enough. The operator apologised and told them that the camp boss had decreed that was all they could have.
They replied stating that as they hadn't received a proper lunch then they would shut down for an hour at Aberdeen in order to do so.
The word got around the platform and the camp boss was nearly lynched by the second rotation.
They replied stating that as they hadn't received a proper lunch then they would shut down for an hour at Aberdeen in order to do so.
The word got around the platform and the camp boss was nearly lynched by the second rotation.
He agreed they were weird combinations of ingredients so said he would check. True to his word the next time I ran across him he said it was apparently our AQM's that had told the catering staff we wanted these sandwiches. Must have something to do with most of us giving our sandwich to the AQM's rather than eating them.