Does backside of the clock really kill you?
10-14-2022, 03:38 PM
#1
Gets Weekends Off
Thread Starter
Joined APC: Jul 2007
Position: Regional Airline Captain
Posts: 142
Does backside of the clock really kill you?
There is this conventional wisdom that people retire from cargo carriers at 65 and are pushing up daisies within five years. Is there any statistical or medical evidence to this? How bad is it for your body to be backside of the clock? Could this be mitigated by maintaining, to an extent or another, that same sleep cycle on your days off?
The only night job I’ve really had was flight instructing instrument students, which I actually didn’t mind at the time, provided some relief from Phoenix heat. But that was also 13 years ago and I was in my early 20s.
Just trying to get some idea whether I’d be happy and healthy at UPS. Any constructive input appreciated.
The only night job I’ve really had was flight instructing instrument students, which I actually didn’t mind at the time, provided some relief from Phoenix heat. But that was also 13 years ago and I was in my early 20s.
Just trying to get some idea whether I’d be happy and healthy at UPS. Any constructive input appreciated.
10-14-2022, 03:44 PM
#2
The NeverEnding Story
Joined APC: Sep 2005
Posts: 7,518
Originally Posted by V1Rotate
There is this conventional wisdom that people retire from cargo carriers at 65 and are pushing up daisies within five years. Is there any statistical or medical evidence to this?
How bad is it for your body to be backside of the clock?
We have a good number of pilots here who qualify for the Boston Marathon or do Ironmans...so yes, it is absolutely possible to remain healthy as long as doing so is a priority to YOU.
10-14-2022, 06:17 PM
#4
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: Sep 2019
Posts: 239
Sometimes it gets to me. You try and plan your sleep out, only to toss and turn. Or a common theme for me on international overnight is be dead tired and wake up 3 hours later wide awake. But there are times I'll get 14 hours of sleep.
10-14-2022, 10:31 PM
#5
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: May 2015
Posts: 299
If you don’t want to fly domestic nighttime sort flying you don’t really ever have to. International is going to be vastly different. Leaving Cologne at 9 pm and landing in SDF at midnight doesn’t appeal to everyone but is another option.
The great thing about UPS flying is our single pay scale. Fly what you want and avoid what you hate.
The great thing about UPS flying is our single pay scale. Fly what you want and avoid what you hate.
10-15-2022, 04:54 AM
#6
Speed Verified
Joined APC: Sep 2017
Posts: 1,033
[QUOTE=Ray Kinsella;3512863]If you don’t want to fly domestic nighttime sort flying you don’t really ever have to. International is going to be vastly different. Leaving Cologne at 9 pm and landing in SDF at midnight doesn’t appeal to everyone but is another option.
The great thing about UPS flying is our single pay scale. Fly what you want and avoid what you hate.
When your seniority allows for it
Good luck.
The great thing about UPS flying is our single pay scale. Fly what you want and avoid what you hate.
When your seniority allows for it
Good luck.
10-15-2022, 05:12 AM
#7
Line Holder
Joined APC: Sep 2016
Position: MD11 Gear Jerk
Posts: 46
Originally Posted by Whalehunter
Sometimes it gets to me. You try and plan your sleep out, only to toss and turn. Or a common theme for me on international overnight is be dead tired and wake up 3 hours later wide awake. But there are times I'll get 14 hours of sleep.
This frequently happens to me, just minus the 14 hours of sleep, ever. UPS and its schedules isn't for everyone, continue to do your due diligence.
Good luck!
10-15-2022, 05:34 AM
#8
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: Dec 2005
Posts: 652
My advice is to simply jumpseat around in the system for several days. Sounds like a crappy vacation but its a big decision. After decades here I still don't see all the lines where one sleeps a regular schedule and works from 6am to 6pm domicile time. The MD11 has those but they are perhaps 15 lines out of 190.
10-15-2022, 02:01 PM
#9
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: Sep 2007
Position: Relaxing
Posts: 235
I'm sure someone has statical evidence night flying is bad for long term health. Specifically, flip flops. There is a fair amount of evidence shift work isn't good for your health. If you can stay on a constant schedule, day or night, you are better off physiologically. The hard part is staying on a schedule. In my 30+ years of flying, living in domicile is better, for any airline. If you can't live in domicile, you are probably better off with passenger operations. The entire system is built around passenger travel. It's just easier. There are some city pairs where boxes aren't too bad, but there are fewer of them. UPS pays a lot. Your surviving spouse is more likely to enjoy UPS than you will. Good luck with your decision.
10-15-2022, 02:03 PM
#10
Occasional box hauler
Joined APC: Jan 2018
Posts: 1,692
Originally Posted by V1Rotate
There is this conventional wisdom that people retire from cargo carriers at 65 and are pushing up daisies within five years. Is there any statistical or medical evidence to this? How bad is it for your body to be backside of the clock? Could this be mitigated by maintaining, to an extent or another, that same sleep cycle on your days off?
The only night job I’ve really had was flight instructing instrument students, which I actually didn’t mind at the time, provided some relief from Phoenix heat. But that was also 13 years ago and I was in my early 20s.
Just trying to get some idea whether I’d be happy and healthy at UPS. Any constructive input appreciated.
The only night job I’ve really had was flight instructing instrument students, which I actually didn’t mind at the time, provided some relief from Phoenix heat. But that was also 13 years ago and I was in my early 20s.
Just trying to get some idea whether I’d be happy and healthy at UPS. Any constructive input appreciated.
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