Narrative:

I read with interest the article on pilot eating habits in the 3/91 issue of 'callback' #142. Although I think it is deplorable that all companies don't treat their flight crews better by giving them adequate time to sleep or eat, I find it hard to believe pilots (flight crews) don't figure out a way to handle the 'lack of food problems' if they admit that it causes safety problems. If I were a pilot and my company didn't provide regular meals or reasonable time for me to get proper meals, I think I could figure out a way to pack my own nourishing lunch so I wouldn't become unsafe due to lack of food. If the pilots you quoted are so dependent on someone else taking care of them in all respects, then I doubt if I'd like to be a passenger in a plane they fly.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: READER OF CALLBACK SUGGESTS PLTS PACK A LUNCH IF THEY ARE WITHOUT MEALS TO THE POINT OF BEING UNSAFE TO FLY.

Narrative: I READ WITH INTEREST THE ARTICLE ON PLT EATING HABITS IN THE 3/91 ISSUE OF 'CALLBACK' #142. ALTHOUGH I THINK IT IS DEPLORABLE THAT ALL COMPANIES DON'T TREAT THEIR FLT CREWS BETTER BY GIVING THEM ADEQUATE TIME TO SLEEP OR EAT, I FIND IT HARD TO BELIEVE PLTS (FLT CREWS) DON'T FIGURE OUT A WAY TO HANDLE THE 'LACK OF FOOD PROBS' IF THEY ADMIT THAT IT CAUSES SAFETY PROBS. IF I WERE A PLT AND MY COMPANY DIDN'T PROVIDE REGULAR MEALS OR REASONABLE TIME FOR ME TO GET PROPER MEALS, I THINK I COULD FIGURE OUT A WAY TO PACK MY OWN NOURISHING LUNCH SO I WOULDN'T BECOME UNSAFE DUE TO LACK OF FOOD. IF THE PLTS YOU QUOTED ARE SO DEPENDENT ON SOMEONE ELSE TAKING CARE OF THEM IN ALL RESPECTS, THEN I DOUBT IF I'D LIKE TO BE A PAX IN A PLANE THEY FLY.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of July 2007 and automatically converted to unabbreviated mixed upper/lowercase text. This report is for informational purposes with no guarantee of accuracy. See NASA's ASRS site for official report.