OCTOBER 23, 2019
You've got questions about how airplanes, airlines and pilots work and Captain John Cox has answers. Each week, he clears up confusion and mysteries for passengers in his column. Tap forward and be enlightened.
On the Singapore Airlines flight from Newark, New Jersey, to Singapore, how many flight crews are aboard, and what are their duty hours on a typical long-haul flight? – David, Oklahoma City
There are two full crews on board flights of this duration. One crew flies the takeoff and initial part of the flight, and then the second crew takes over for the remaining part of the flight and landing. Depending on the length of the flight, each crew member may have eight or nine hours of duty time.
On long, trans-Atlantic/trans-Pacific flights, how do pilots spend their time? Does one group of pilots stay awake for the duration or are there shifts? What if they need to use the restroom? – Zack, Philadelphia
Pilots have rest periods during long flights. There are always two pilots on duty. If a pilot that is on duty needs to use the lavatory, there are procedures to bring another pilot or a flight attendant into the flight deck to guard the door while the pilot is in the lavatory. Pilots that are on a rest period may be able to utilise a crew rest facility to sleep.
Q: On long flights, what does the crew do to avoid boredom after the flight computer has taken control of the aircraft? – Peter T., Suffolk, Virginia
There are routine tasks that keep a flight crew occupied on long flights. For example, there are position reports to air-traffic control and navigation checks.
What options do I have on a long-haul flight when I run into a tough situation with the cabin crew and need it addressed? – ARM, Houston
If you feel that a crew member is not performing as they should, after you arrive at your destination, write the airline providing the date, flight, time and if possible the name of the crew member. I would not suggest attempting to address it in flight.
How do commercial aircraft handle CO2 buildup during long flights? – Zuk, Sachse, Texas
Air is exchanged in a modern airliner every two to three minutes. There is no buildup of carbon dioxide.
John Cox is a retired airline captain with US Airways and runs his own aviation safety consulting company, Safety Operating Systems. This story is reproduced from USA Today.