What is the “secret room” where the hostess and the pilot sleep on the plane during long flights?

Flying is really exhausting for both passengers and airline pilots and crew members., In the United States, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has established rules for adequate rest for all air personnel. In this way, the planes have a place specially destined for rest, and not many people know,

Since a large number of flight frequencies were reactivated after the “containment” of the COVID-19 pandemic, airlines have not been able to cope with the level of demand. Precisely, one of the pilots’ claims is a personnel shortage, which translates to hard working day for them,

In that sense, airline employees can demand a “minimum time”. Ten hours for pilots and nine hours for flight attendantsRegarding national routes.

However, everything varies according to each member’s “scheduled flight time”, which is defined as when the aircraft moves under its own power to take off and ends when the aircraft stops after landing.

This ten hour was established in 2011, Nearly three years after the crash of Colgan Air Flight 3407 in Buffalo, New YorkIn which 50 people died. Over time, it was determined that fatigue levels contributed to that tragedy.

In 2021, The FAA proposes that flight attendant rest be increased to ten hours, all with the intention of “reducing fatigue” and that they may properly perform their duties. From August this year, the plan is up for approval in the Office of Management and Budget.

Now, domestic routes are assigned to crew members who usually rest between shifts in hotels or at home. Even then, On long flights, they have “secret areas” to rest or sleep in.,

For pilots, these locations are usually at the front of the aircraft, near or above the cabin, while for assistants, at the end of the aircraft, according to business Insider,

For example, Qatar’s Boeing 787, It has a chair, two bunk beds and a telephone to communicate directly with the cabin., in the case of pilots. For their part, the assistants rest in the rear of the aircraft. In addition, United Airlines’ Boeing 767-300ER and Air Canada’s 787 have Row of seats closed for the comfort of the employeesAnd some with footrests.

However, the case of wide-bodied aircraft is shocking, as they have room completely hidden from passengers. This case is of ITA Airways Airbus A350, it has a Area accessible only via a ladder from the kitchen,

The space has cabinets, mirrors and eight bunks, each envisioned as an individual bedroom, divided into three sections, where the telephone communicating with the cockpit is located within reach of all.

In addition, each berth has space to hold seat belts, electrical outlets, personal belongings and curtains, to add some privacy even among fellow passengers.