Apnea, early starts blamed in Hawaii pilots' nap
Join Date: Feb 2006
Location: Belfast
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I'm SLF but if you fly Dash 8-400's in and out of BHD you may have seen me boarding your aircraft with a bulky square blue bag. This contains my CPAP machine - a vital piece of equipment as like this pilot I suffer from sleep apnoea described by my doctors as 'significant'.
I would be totally amazed if he did not realise there was a problem. I struggled with it for years, falling asleep over my computer in work, feeling as if I was going around in a fog, going outside for fresh air, fighting to keep my eyes open. It's awful. A complete nightmare. No-one with this condition should be trying to fly hundreds of passengers around every day until the problem is completely eradicated.
My diagnosis was complicated by the fact I have an ongoing pituary gland problem which means I have to take thyroid replacement every day. Doctors including my hospital endocrinologist felt for a long time this condition was to blame. Eventually, a new GP in my practice who wasn't as tuned in to my previous problems decided to refer me to a specialist.
By this stage I had reduced my driving to the absolute minimum and following diagnosis my licence was suspended. The condition is much better now but it has not gone away completely despite both the CPAP machine and use of the drug Modafinil. Six months after my licence was suspended I lost it altogether and I don't think I'll ever drive again.
My point is sleep apnoea is a dangerous condition. If untreated it leads to death as it puts strain on the heart and lungs but it also poses a great danger to others if the sufferer does not acknowledge there's a problem.
I could not continue to drive either legally or morally. This airline pilot should not have been flying.
I would be totally amazed if he did not realise there was a problem. I struggled with it for years, falling asleep over my computer in work, feeling as if I was going around in a fog, going outside for fresh air, fighting to keep my eyes open. It's awful. A complete nightmare. No-one with this condition should be trying to fly hundreds of passengers around every day until the problem is completely eradicated.
My diagnosis was complicated by the fact I have an ongoing pituary gland problem which means I have to take thyroid replacement every day. Doctors including my hospital endocrinologist felt for a long time this condition was to blame. Eventually, a new GP in my practice who wasn't as tuned in to my previous problems decided to refer me to a specialist.
By this stage I had reduced my driving to the absolute minimum and following diagnosis my licence was suspended. The condition is much better now but it has not gone away completely despite both the CPAP machine and use of the drug Modafinil. Six months after my licence was suspended I lost it altogether and I don't think I'll ever drive again.
My point is sleep apnoea is a dangerous condition. If untreated it leads to death as it puts strain on the heart and lungs but it also poses a great danger to others if the sufferer does not acknowledge there's a problem.
I could not continue to drive either legally or morally. This airline pilot should not have been flying.
Join Date: Jan 2004
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A11
Just to give you another side to the discussion given by AB Girl. The rules on crew hours in the UK are controlled by the CAA under CAP371 but also under the juristriction of the EU. In 99% of the rules in CAP371 these are well under those allowed in Europe. UK Airlines have for many years searched for a level playing field with Europe and to an extent we have it now. However, the CAA and to their credit so far all UK Airlines are sticking to CAP371. A good example is at night in the UK we can do 10.15 hours for a 2 sector night reporting after 2200 whereas in Europe 11.45. In the UK we're limited to 3 earlys or nights, in Europe - no limits. So AB girl is correct to a certain extent that CAP371 needs changing, why not for example run 4 earlys or 4 nights instead of the mix she had?. Safer - yes given the studies undertaken by Airlines that operate that sort of programme.
Many Airlines are now adopting Fatigue Risk Management programmes, crews have to complete sleep studies, under take alertness tasks whilst on duty etc. Many Airlines don't and state that CAP371 gives them the protection they need (Big Bird Airways for example).
Overall your better placed in my view flying with a UK Airline
Just to give you another side to the discussion given by AB Girl. The rules on crew hours in the UK are controlled by the CAA under CAP371 but also under the juristriction of the EU. In 99% of the rules in CAP371 these are well under those allowed in Europe. UK Airlines have for many years searched for a level playing field with Europe and to an extent we have it now. However, the CAA and to their credit so far all UK Airlines are sticking to CAP371. A good example is at night in the UK we can do 10.15 hours for a 2 sector night reporting after 2200 whereas in Europe 11.45. In the UK we're limited to 3 earlys or nights, in Europe - no limits. So AB girl is correct to a certain extent that CAP371 needs changing, why not for example run 4 earlys or 4 nights instead of the mix she had?. Safer - yes given the studies undertaken by Airlines that operate that sort of programme.
Many Airlines are now adopting Fatigue Risk Management programmes, crews have to complete sleep studies, under take alertness tasks whilst on duty etc. Many Airlines don't and state that CAP371 gives them the protection they need (Big Bird Airways for example).
Overall your better placed in my view flying with a UK Airline
Join Date: Jul 2009
Location: korat thailand
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Apnea
SLF but ex taxi driver. Had a taxi driver in our group with apnea.Used to keep awake with chocolate and rum on long drives!Drove into a Land Rover at sixty mph in the end and killed himself.Very dangerous not enough sleep.
Join Date: Oct 2008
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mirror !
Folks, lets for a second look at the other side of the coin , How many captains over 40 do you know that are overweight or obese and live a sedentary lifestyle ? TOO many ! how many female pilots do you know who are obese/overweight ? Clearly, the women are doing a much better job with their health. Obesity leads to problems with your ability to handle the various stress and fatigue inducing problems in aviation and so you all better look at the mirror FIRST before pointing the finger in every other direction ( Hint: try getting into shape and USING your noggen in IMPROVING ways to avoid fatigue, etc ! During your 15-18 days off a month !!!)
Obviously those doctors and controllers don't have the time change to combat as well.
I have only suffered mildly before but this last rip to Thailand, going it took me a day or two to adjust, coming back was different entirely. We were well rested before the trip and the early morning start wasn't extreme, left the hotel after six, but for at least a week after we got back I was completely wasted. Three to four o'clock every afternoon I folded like a bad poker hand. I was just thinking, "How do those pilots do it?" I was doing some home plumbing and noticed that I was mis measuring, making mistakes and had become generally incompetent. Had to stop before I set the house on fire.
Frankly I did not have an opinion before, now I realise how serious it could be.
I have only suffered mildly before but this last rip to Thailand, going it took me a day or two to adjust, coming back was different entirely. We were well rested before the trip and the early morning start wasn't extreme, left the hotel after six, but for at least a week after we got back I was completely wasted. Three to four o'clock every afternoon I folded like a bad poker hand. I was just thinking, "How do those pilots do it?" I was doing some home plumbing and noticed that I was mis measuring, making mistakes and had become generally incompetent. Had to stop before I set the house on fire.
Frankly I did not have an opinion before, now I realise how serious it could be.
