I keep hearing things about how hard the back side of the clock is on the body. Does flying for a company like UPS or Fedex really take years off your life like some people claim? What's you guys opinion who have been doing it for years?

In a word; "YES" ...

TransMach

Doesn't seem to bother me much but then again I like staying up late anyway. 3am no sweat, 6 am gets tough, noon after the all nighter, sucks. I've been flying all nighters for 15 years.

I think the trouble is when you are constantly trying to swap your sleep cycle from week to week. I know when I get home I'm tired for 3 days while swapping back to a "normal" lifestyle.

I also believe that if you have any vices like lack of exercise/overeating and drinking too much that the fatigue will add to the problems those issues cause.

hth

I do think that there's something to this in that flying the back side of the clock makes it more difficult to maintain an exercise regimen and it is probably more conducive to unhealthy eating habits. So, years off of your life not so much for routinely flying the back side of the clock but, more due to flying the back side of the clock's negative influence on a healthy routine.

It depends on each Individual, AGE and general Health......and did I mention AGE.

Back side of the clock flying isn't for everyone, it sux as far as the body goes.

Your body has a natural clock that doesn't like to be disrupted.
Sleeping and Eating at regular times is important to healthy living.

Some folks adapt to back side much easier than others. I am in the latter category. It gets harder on me the older I get.

Staying in Shape physically and eating heathly and laying off the Booze does help. But you body can't be turned on/off like a light switch......contrary to how the company's Schedulers seem to think. "We gave you 10 hours to sleep, how can you be tired?"
(after I just crossed and recrossed 12 time zones in 3 days). "So you should be able to sleep no problem when you get to the hotel!"


The actual Flying part is easier in many instances (except it is at night and you are very tired)
You seldom get delayed, almost always cleared Direct to destination (domestically), seldom hear blocked radio calls, Taxi any way you want once at destination, etc.

It takes way less of a toll on your body as all the ultra-violet rays you suck in by day flying, not to mention the stress of losing seniority, pay and retirement benefits.

Priceless...

Totally agree. I'm thankful every day for what I have and what I left behind "losing seniority, pay and retirement benefits."

MD

If you are asking because you want to weigh Cargo vs Pax, keep in mind that both fly international and that is what really screws up your body. Once you start crossing multiple time zones, it really doesn't matter if it's day or night, it's going to affect you. So, yes domestically there is a difference, but in the latter half of your career (except SWA) there isn't a difference. My .02

ROFLMAO

Sad and now true...

I found it fairly easy when I would commute back and forth to Europe and the west coast. I was flying nights in Europe and have a normal schedule in the States. The same was not when I was flying daylight operations in the M.E. area with a commute. There were a few studies done back in the ninties about sleep arhythmia and life expectancies. I will see if I can find some sources. The consensus was between 5-10 years, less than the normal expectations.

In short; exercise, eat healthy, sleep at night and stay out of the trees!