How do pilots rest on long-haul flights?

Question

When flying on a long-haul airliner flight in economy, often I find it very hard to fall asleep. However, when off cockpit duties, they still have to get rest so that they are able to control the aircraft without being exhausted and collapsing on the controls when they are on duty. Are there are any specific methods of helping pilots to gain the rest required on board an aircraft? Have there been any studies about the effectiveness of these?

score 32 · Answer 1 · edited Jan 01 '19 at 16:07

32

Since a picture speaks for a thousand words...

These are often called "coffins" or "sarcophagus" around here... (Portugal)

crew rest area

Source

edited Jan 01 '19 at 16:07

Glorfindel

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answered Feb 13 '14 at 09:59

paulo.filip3

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Ahhhh... blue light makes everything better :D – yankeekilo Feb 13 '14 at 12:50
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That photo shows a B777 crew rest area for flight attendants, not pilots. Here is a link to the pilot's crew rest area: http://www.airliners.net/photo/Boeing/Boeing-777-240-LR/1061577/&sid=781090153121e4955b239df2b638883a – Mike Sowsun Apr 07 '16 at 22:16

score 27 · Accepted Answer · edited Nov 19 '18 at 08:21

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Unlike passengers in economy who are trying to sleep in sitting position in seat that can be only partially reclined, the pilots sleep lying in a bed. Long range aircraft have a crew rest area. They are often above or below the main cabin and therefore low, not allowing standing up, but they always have beds or fully convertible chairs. The flight crew rest area is most commonly for 3 and separate cabin crew rest area for whatever is the usual number of flight attendants in given plane.

edited Nov 19 '18 at 08:21

kevin

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answered Feb 13 '14 at 06:21

Jan Hudec

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This also goes by the name of crew rest compartment(s) (google reveals some interesting images). – yankeekilo Feb 13 '14 at 07:09

How do pilots rest on long-haul flights?

2 Answers2

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