Rest and Relaxation

Unfortunately I haven't been here!

Slightly off topic from the training today, but taking time off every now and then to recuperate is very important no matter what line of work you are in. Flying especially when a Pilot's ability to safely handle the aircraft are hugely dependent on his, or her fatigue, or lack of! My logic here brings me to the conclusion that it's only right, that even during intensive studying during this ground-school phase, that I too take a break every once in a while to rest and generally recharge the batteries, as well as let the material settle.

Anyway, there have been a few instances reported recently of Pilots falling asleep at the controls, one flight subsequently overflying it's destination by 150 miles. Worrying isn't it that the safety of potentially a few hundred people is being compromised by pilots having long working hours.  Fortunately, thanks to the help of our MEPs, in the last week, plans to change the rules on pilot working hours have been rejected. The plans, which according to the CAA (Civil Aviation Authority) would "almost never happen", would see a potential for pilots to be landing after 22 hours awake. I'm pretty sure that you as the passengers wouldn't be happy with that, let alone the pilots. Here is the link if you wish to go and read about it: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-24327366

As much as us trainee pilots like to think that we aren't going to fall asleep at the controls, reality and statistics suggest that we might! The result of this vote was certainly a good thing to safeguard the relatively high safety standards we currently enjoy.

Well that's my break over, it's time to hit the books (computer software) again! Until next time, Adios!

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