DHC-6 FLT CREW; WHILE TRANSITING TO THEIR DEST; ONE MEMBER IS ACCUSED OF SLEEPING AT THE CTLS.
Synopsis
DHC-6 FLT CREW; WHILE TRANSITING TO THEIR DEST; ONE MEMBER IS ACCUSED OF SLEEPING AT THE CTLS.
Narrative
I WAS THE FO ON A CHARTER FLT. THIS WAS MY ASSIGNED LEG AND I WAS THE PF. WE DEPARTED AT APPROX XA30 LCL TIME. UPON REACHING CRUISE AND LEVEL FLT; THE CAPT EXPRESSED TO ME THAT HE HAD A HEADACHE AND HE WAS GOING TO REMOVE HIS HEADSET FOR A FEW MOMENTS TO ALLEVIATE THE DISCOMFORT CAUSED BY THE HEADSET. PRIOR TO DSCNT; THE CAPT REPLACED HIS HEADSET; PERFORMED HIS REGULAR DUTIES; AND THE REMAINDER OF THE FLT WAS UNEVENTFUL. THE PROB IS THE FOLLOWING: THE DAY AFTER THE FLT IN QUESTION; THE GENERAL MGR ADVISED US (THE CREW) THAT HE HAD A RPT FROM A PAX ACCUSING OR ALLEGING THAT THE CAPT WAS SLEEPING. THIS PERSON APPARENTLY FILMED; WITH HIS OWN PERSONAL VIDEO CAMERA; A SIDE SHOT OF THE CAPT WITH HIS EYES CLOSED; HIS HEAD RESTING ON THE HEADREST; AND AS PREVIOUSLY MENTIONED; WITHOUT HIS HEADSET ON HIS HEAD. THE VIDEO CLIP WAS ABOUT 15-20 SECONDS LONG AND FROM THE ANGLE IT WAS TAKEN (FROM BEHIND) IT COULD ERRONEOUSLY BE INTERPED THAT HE WAS 'SLEEPING'. I PARTICULARLY RECALL THAT WE HAD BEEN SCHEDULED FOR A LONG DAY AND AS I MENTIONED EARLIER; THE CAPT HAD ADVISED ME HE WAS EXPERIENCING A HEADACHE. TO MAKE MATTERS WORSE; I RECALL WE WERE FLYING DIRECTLY INTO THE SUNLIGHT WHICH CAN BE BOTHERSOME EVEN WHEN WEARING SUNGLASSES; AND IN AN ACFT THAT DOESN'T HAVE AIR CONDITIONING ON A HOT SUMMER DAY. THE TIME THE CAPT WAS WITH HIS EYES CLOSED WAS BTWN 10-15 MINS DURING CRUISE AND LEVEL FLT. THE SAFETY OF THE FLT WAS NEVER COMPROMISED AT ANY TIME. PRIOR TO THE DSCNT/APCH PHASE OF THE FLT; THE CAPT REPLACED HIS HEADSET AND RESUMED HIS NORMAL DUTIES FOR THE REMAINDER OF THE FLT. SUPPLEMENTAL INFO FROM ACN 587911: ONCE IN LEVEL FLT; AND ALL INFLT DUTIES COMPLETED; I ADVISED THE FO THAT I WAS REMOVING MY HEADSET TO CLOSE MY EYES FOR A FEW MINS. AT NO TIME WAS I ASLEEP AT CTLS AS IT WOULD APPEAR. THE SAFETY OF THE FLT WAS NOT COMPROMISED IN ANY WAY AT ANY TIME. I BELIEVE THE PERIOD OF TIME WITHOUT THE HEADSET TO BE APPROX 10 MINS; AFTER WHICH TIME I REPLACED MY HEADSET AND PERFORMED PNF DUTIES FOR THE REMAINDER OF THE FLT.
Source: NASA Aviation Safety Reporting System (public domain). Reports are voluntary submissions and are not verified by NASA.