Originally Posted by
ImSoSuss
A lot of foreign airlines allow one pilot at a time nap at cruise. Maybe that is what the U.S. should allow in conjunction to raising the retirement age? btw, I see a lot of head nods from my younger FOs in the middle of the afternoon too.
They also fly longer legs before getting an FB/RO. We were in Athens and a crew sat down next to us. Flying Toronto to Athens on a 777...2 man. :-0
Had a 3rd pilot with them....FB for the flight back. He was deadheading. I'm guessing less pay??? So they flew 2 man, with their FB deadheading in the back, and we had a 3 man crew both ways.
But it gets better. Their #1 got sick. Turned back to St. Johns or Gander, dropped her off for medical care, and re-launched....still as a 2 man crew with the FB chilling in the back, as they were still legal as a 2 man crew. Beats me how that was legal but we certainly don't know their duty and flight time limits.
It was common to see 2 man foreign crews when the U.S. crews had a 3 man crew. It's a big difference even if you only take a 30-60 minute break.