When do pilots sleep in the cockpit during long-haul flights? Napping on the job isn't uncommon

If you've ever wondered about when your hardworking pilot is grabbing their shuteye, this will definitely be news to you
With the longest non-stop flight being announced earlier this month, you'd be forgiven for wondering how on earth the flight crew will cope.



The Qatar Airways flight between Dubai and Auckland is set to cover more than 9,000 miles during a flight time of around 17 hours and 30 minutes, longer than the permitted nine to 14 hours in the cockpit.

But there are ways that pilots can nap on the flight, so don't fret if yours appears to be napping on the job

Airline flight crews generally consist of at least two pilots, where one pilot is designated as pilot flying and the other is not flying.

Their role is observing instruments and flight parameters.

In this arrangement, if required, pilots can use flight crew in-seat rest.

Aviation Stack Exchange , a forum for pilots and flight crew, explains: "This is the process whereby pilots may take short periods of sleep, while temporarily relieved of operational duties in accordance with carefully prescribed ‘controlled rest’ procedures, when part of a two-man operating crew of an in-flight aeroplane."

Such 'naps' are not communicated to air traffic control and are only allowed with two pilots present on the flight-deck. Only one can 'rest' at a time.

Long-haul flight craft are designed to in-flight sleep to happen and there is an small room where pilots not in service are allowed to relax and sleep.

Some countries do not allow in-seat rest.

On long-haul flights, airlines can have three or four pilots on board, where two pilots must remain awake and in the flight deck, but the other one or two pilots may sleep.

(culled from www.mirror.co.uk)