Starving pilots over London
Thread Starter
Join Date: Nov 2003
Location: singapore
Posts: 30
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Starving pilots over London
Imagine waking at dawn, face Mecca and start fast. Pilot the 747 with another hungry jock at noon for an 13 hour flight West to London. The Sun shines, no food, no water for already 20 hours, arriving into London's congested terminal area at evening peak. Blood sugar is low, body's dehydrated. Never mind the poor 400 paxs and blighters on the ground. At least we'll both go to haven!
Join Date: Aug 2002
Location: London
Posts: 507
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
I think the sharia legal code does offer dispensation to people in special need or who are sick, allowing them to take food and water during the daylight hours of Ramadan. Whether this applies to Saudia crews, I know not, but I would think so.
Join Date: Dec 2001
Location: Middle East
Posts: 413
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
I was led to believe that there is dispensation for those travelling also, as long as they make up for it later on?
Stand to be corrected, my gulf experience was 4 years ago...
Stand to be corrected, my gulf experience was 4 years ago...
Join Date: Jun 2001
Location: Dublin, Ireland
Age: 74
Posts: 87
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Ramadan
A million years ago whilst on the Lightning contract, we had a pilot grounded because he wouldnt break the fast. The Flight Safety Officer (his buddy, incidentally) had him on Orderly Officer during the flying programme!
And yes, if travelling, fasting is excused.
And yes, if travelling, fasting is excused.
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: earth
Posts: 1,397
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
The real problem, BYOD, is that instead of waking at dawn most Saudis I know are just putting their heads down after a night of feasting and partying - that is the normal Ramadan routine.
All Muslims who have duty in the daytime are free from the Ramadan eating and drinking ban but most ignore this fact and claim fasting as a reason for reduced working hours.
Sales of foodstuffs soar throughout Ramadan - hypocritical or what?
OK - so I know this will mark me as anti-muslim but I'm not. I simply believe a fast is not a feast.
All Muslims who have duty in the daytime are free from the Ramadan eating and drinking ban but most ignore this fact and claim fasting as a reason for reduced working hours.
Sales of foodstuffs soar throughout Ramadan - hypocritical or what?
OK - so I know this will mark me as anti-muslim but I'm not. I simply believe a fast is not a feast.
Swounger
Join Date: May 1999
Location: New York, NY USA
Posts: 422
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
There has been a thread on this from prior years. Re the sale of food soaring, the entire month is a celebratory period, marked by family meals and celebrations after sundown, as well as a light pre-dawn meal, so I don't see why this should be any surprise. Re fasting in general, and other religions have fast days, there should be no compromising pilot readiness and alertness because of religion--if a pilot is weak from whatever reason, and doesn't feel s/he is able to fly, s/he shouldn't be flying. .
Join Date: Apr 2003
Location: Broadmoor
Posts: 71
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
I was PAX on a Royal Air Moroc 737 flight to Marakech when the Captain collapsed during Ramadan somewhere over Spain. Fortunately there was a paramedic on board who diagnosed a large dose of sugar. P2 landed us in Casablanca.
Interesting the "travelling" moslim pax were offered milk and bread.
Interesting the "travelling" moslim pax were offered milk and bread.
Join Date: May 2003
Location: eu
Posts: 11
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Muslims are allowed to break the fast when they travel.
The problem is the attitude of muslims pilots, because very few pilots are willing to break the fast when they work. Maybe the pressure from other fasting muslims is to big. This is a very poor judgement (one of the side effects of fasting, maybe).
Religion should not interfere with the duty as pilot and fasting pilots have clearly misunderstood what their job and duty is.
Fasting and flying airplanes do not belong together.
bbj
The problem is the attitude of muslims pilots, because very few pilots are willing to break the fast when they work. Maybe the pressure from other fasting muslims is to big. This is a very poor judgement (one of the side effects of fasting, maybe).
Religion should not interfere with the duty as pilot and fasting pilots have clearly misunderstood what their job and duty is.
Fasting and flying airplanes do not belong together.
bbj
Join Date: Jan 2002
Location: London
Posts: 444
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
I know some Asian airines actually have a company rule saying fasting is not permitted while on duty.
BabyJet..maybe yr comment should read "some" muslim pilots, rather than encompassing all.
Sure, I agree it does put lives at risk and flight crew should be aware of this, (a respsonsibility similar to not drinking alcohol before flying!)
BabyJet..maybe yr comment should read "some" muslim pilots, rather than encompassing all.
Sure, I agree it does put lives at risk and flight crew should be aware of this, (a respsonsibility similar to not drinking alcohol before flying!)
Shining Example, apparently...
Join Date: Jul 2001
Location: Lone Star State
Age: 50
Posts: 288
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
So BYOD, London is the only place that matters? 
No, their understanding is different. A devout Muslim pilot will not fear the risks of fasting, because he believes Allah will protect him. If he goes down, this will be Allah's will; either way, he has nothing to worry about.
The safety vs. religion issue is very tough to manage, and not just in aviation.
I'll keep my secular opinions to myself, since neither side can be proven right!
fasting pilots have clearly misunderstood what their job and duty is.
The safety vs. religion issue is very tough to manage, and not just in aviation.
I'll keep my secular opinions to myself, since neither side can be proven right!
My understanding (and perhaps a Mullah would care to comment) is that, whilst a traveller is not required to fast, those days must be made up at another time. Clearly, this would require the observant to spend a couple of months or more fasting on days off which is particularly inconvenient outside Ramadan when others are not fasting.
Perhaps come and work for us and have iftar and sahur on the same flight
Perhaps come and work for us and have iftar and sahur on the same flight
Join Date: Sep 2003
Location: temporarily unsure :-)
Posts: 311
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
As far as i understand it from muslim friends of mine,there is a special exception made for those who need to be at top physical levels over long periods such as pilots-so i think most muslim pilots flying during ramadan would at least eat something during the flight.
