All Policies Include Coronavirus Cover
Call for an instant quote 0345 90 80 161
Open Mon to Fri 09:00 - 17:30
30 September 2013 08:53
A report has emerged of two pilots, severely fatigued, who fell asleep in the cockpit at the same time
A couple of severely fatigued pilots who had only five hours' sleep in each of the previous two nights both nodded off at the same time in the cockpit of a UK passenger plane, according to an official report.
They were the only two people tasked with flying the aircraft, and are said to have not been given enough opportunity to sleep properly in the previous two days because they were on duty for too long.
The case is perhaps an extreme example of why having travel insurance can cover passengers for the most unexpected of potential problems.
UK pilots' organisation Balpa is currently opposing an EU plan to relax the rules governing the amount of time pilots should fly without a break.
Details of the incident, which happened on August 13, appear in a Civil Aviation Authority report obtained by a news agency inquiring about examples of pilot fatigue.
The authority does not identify the airline company or the destination of the flight.
A statement from Balpa said: "In the UK we have a strict set of flight safety rules which govern how long and how often a pilot can fly before their performance is impaired.
"The EU is proposing more permissive flight safety rules which would allow pilots to be flying aircraft whilst dangerously fatigued.
"These rules were not developed using scientific data and could have a grave impact on the safety of UK aviation."
The EU proposal is "flawed in many areas" with pilots being legally allowed to land an aircraft having been awake for 22 hours; pilots operating longer-haul flights (such as west coast US) with only two crew rather than the current three and pilots possibly being forced to work up to seven early starts in a row, Balpa said.
The Civil Aviation Authority report, entitled 'Flight crew suffering from symptoms of severe fatigue', said: "Reporter (almost certainly the captain) suggests both members of flight crew had only five hours sleep in two nights due to longer duty periods with insufficient opportunity to sleep.
"Both crew rested for 20-minute rotations and fell asleep."
17 March 2020
Escape it all with a visit to one of the world's hidden island gems.
[more...]
02 July 2021
It's time for some Mediterranean sun and unforgettable sights. Here are five of our favourite must-sees in Malta.
Take your pick of the best beaches in Portugal, spanning more than 500 miles of the Portuguese coastline.
Holidays are back but not quite as we know them. Here's a quick guide to what to expect when travelling to and from green list countries.
28 February 2020
From tulip-filled trips to rose-tinged rests, these destinations are the perfect way to see in the new season.
04 January 2021
Join us on a journey to Ancient Greece to discover more about history's most revered statue.
Head north for a light show like no other. Discover how you can see the Northern Lights for yourself.
Discover more about the magnificent waterfall perched on the border of Zambia and Zimbabwe.
10 December 2020
Don't sleep on the world's most impressive dormant volcano.
A destination that stands head and shoulders above the rest.
19 November 2020
Take a tour of one of South America's most captivating natural landscapes.
Discover the hidden depths of the world's most recognisable desert gorge.