Conception of a rest room in new long range aircrafts
 

I'm working on a study about re-organizing the rest rooms for pilots in the case of long range flights. I would like to have your opinions, suggestions on what would you think necessary in this type of rest rooms. All kinds of information you would like to say about the comfort, the space you request to have a good and rapid rest, all sorts of things you have in mind and things you need. It would help this study and make a big progress, taking the request of pilots to create things for them. An online sample survey to make human factor in aeronautics progress.
Thanks for your help

MIT

When you're talking about crew rest on board aircraft, and crew bunks etc., please don't use the word "conception". Instead, please use the word "concept". "Conception" is a word that will get a lot of cabin crew (and flight crew, and flight-crew's spouses) very, very worried. :)

[This message has been edited by HugMonster (edited 08 November 2000).]

MIT,
If you're a serious researcher, contact AIPA on 61 2 9700 0777.
The team at AIPA (Oz pilots' assn) have done a heap of work on that subject and are seen to be leading the pack by IFALPA.
IMHO the first thing you must have for ultra long haul ops is a separate crew toilet.

Thanks you for your replies. My study is serious because it concern pilot's conditions in the new aircrafts like Airbus A3XX.
I'm a specialist of human factor and also a pilot. I would like to use internet to have the maximum of different and various answers about the question because pilot all over the world don't think the same thing due to differences coming from culture, social, way of training...

Hmm, now if only something could be done about the many time zone changes. Bid North-South, I guess.

Can you be more explicit about your request. Do you think flight going North-South should have a different preparation than East-West. Does it have a consequence on the naps made during the flight. What could we add in a future pilots rest room to ameliorate jetlag problems or move forward or backwards of biological rythms.

Does anyone use the Airbus recommandation:
Airbus Industrie-LAA. Copying with long-range flying. Recommandations for crew rest and alertness.- Blagnac.
Is all air companies using nap during the long haul flights. Is it still forbidden in some countries.
Thank you for your replies

Personally I think a comfortable bunk is essential. B747-400 bunks behind the flt deck is good, but could do with better sound insulation.

Time zone difference makes for jet lag, which I still find very stressful even after so many years.

It seems that insulation from external noise causes problems. This is essential for a good quality of the rest.So What are the source of those noises. Is it mostly some vibrations or a general back noise coming from engines...
Is the hygrometry of the rest cabin is sufficient to have a good rest or do you think that we should accomodate for this place of special environnement ( about 40% instead of 8%)
Are the bunk big enough (lengh and wideness)?
Do you generally sleep in those areas or have a little time of reading, etc
Could you indicate me the country you are flying for or companies if you like.
Thanks to continue helping me in this study.

Source of discomfort often experienced by pilots are vibration, noise and low cabin air humidity.
Aircraft vibration and noise are usually well within toleration limits, are you in accord with that. In flight measurements have not revealed levels above 85 dba, a level at which ear protection is advisable because of the risk of acoustic trauma therefore in the case of a resting room this level is very important and it introduces stress in circadian rythm (melatonin rythm essentially). Do you feel such desynchronosis, do you relax completetly, do you feel that the rest your doing in activity is optimum?
Do you suffer from dryness of the cabin air.

I'm waiting for some replies, please.

Does anyone now where i could find images of rest cabin of 777 and other aircrafts?

Thanks for your help

MIT

MIT
Try the Bluecoat forum, you will find many people willing to help you there.http://www.neosoft.com/~sky/BLUECOAT/

thanks for the info