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Concern over pilots’ mid-air ‘naps’
UK: Newspaper reveals worrying levels of in-flight non-communication
A disturbing report in The Sunday Telegraph suggests that long-haul pilots take mid-air “naps” of up to two hours and tell cabin crew not to disturb them.
The newspaper talks to a wide range of cabin staff, many of whom say the problem has become worse since 11 September, which led to many airlines to lock the cockpit door behind pilots – and unwittingly cause pilot / crew relationships to break down.
Previously, the newspaper reports, cabin crew would routinely visit the captain or pilot to check if everything was in order. One experienced pilot told The Sunday Telegraph he recently had “the fright of his life” when the captain took a sleep break and he ended up dozing off himself a few minutes later. “It was terrifying to think what might have happened because the captain had told the cabin crew not to disturb him.”
British Airways vowed to investigate the problem and that any pilot who was found not to be talking with cabin crew every 20 minutes would face disciplinary action. A spokesman told the newspaper: “This is an important safety issue and we take it very seriously.”
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