Narrative:

The 2 day/all nighter hawaii turns are completely unsafe. I was given this trip on reserve; and was beyond exhausted. As if the day hawaii turns were bad enough; this adds additional insult to a duty period. On the return flight I was falling asleep; making careless actions (such as difficulty in closing the B757 cockpit barrier -- a task which is easy when fully rested; my hands were trembling when holding a coffee cup/saucer; I nearly forgot to disarm my door; I could barely think straight when making preparation for landing and welcome announcements). These are all simple actions which under normal well rested circumstances would never be compromised. The duty day is that of an international trip; however without a rest break. It is simply not human to work these hours during the night; and the fatigue we are submitted to is an enormous risk to the crew and passenger's safety. In addition to feeling unsafe in the workplace; it was completely unsafe driving home. I was nodding off behind the wheel; and experiencing great difficulty keeping my eyes open. My vision was blurry; and I was frightened for my safety. Air carrier is putting us at great risk on many levels. These hawaii all nighter turns (as well as day turns) need to be reevaluated. They may 'look good on paper;' but the safety and fatigue related risks are too great. Pilots cannot fly them -- so why should we?

Google
 

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: B757 CABIN ATTENDANT CONCERNED WITH LENGTH OF FLT AND FATIGUE ISSUES.

Narrative: THE 2 DAY/ALL NIGHTER HAWAII TURNS ARE COMPLETELY UNSAFE. I WAS GIVEN THIS TRIP ON RESERVE; AND WAS BEYOND EXHAUSTED. AS IF THE DAY HAWAII TURNS WERE BAD ENOUGH; THIS ADDS ADDITIONAL INSULT TO A DUTY PERIOD. ON THE RETURN FLT I WAS FALLING ASLEEP; MAKING CARELESS ACTIONS (SUCH AS DIFFICULTY IN CLOSING THE B757 COCKPIT BARRIER -- A TASK WHICH IS EASY WHEN FULLY RESTED; MY HANDS WERE TREMBLING WHEN HOLDING A COFFEE CUP/SAUCER; I NEARLY FORGOT TO DISARM MY DOOR; I COULD BARELY THINK STRAIGHT WHEN MAKING PREPARATION FOR LNDG AND WELCOME ANNOUNCEMENTS). THESE ARE ALL SIMPLE ACTIONS WHICH UNDER NORMAL WELL RESTED CIRCUMSTANCES WOULD NEVER BE COMPROMISED. THE DUTY DAY IS THAT OF AN INTL TRIP; HOWEVER WITHOUT A REST BREAK. IT IS SIMPLY NOT HUMAN TO WORK THESE HRS DURING THE NIGHT; AND THE FATIGUE WE ARE SUBMITTED TO IS AN ENORMOUS RISK TO THE CREW AND PAX'S SAFETY. IN ADDITION TO FEELING UNSAFE IN THE WORKPLACE; IT WAS COMPLETELY UNSAFE DRIVING HOME. I WAS NODDING OFF BEHIND THE WHEEL; AND EXPERIENCING GREAT DIFFICULTY KEEPING MY EYES OPEN. MY VISION WAS BLURRY; AND I WAS FRIGHTENED FOR MY SAFETY. ACR IS PUTTING US AT GREAT RISK ON MANY LEVELS. THESE HAWAII ALL NIGHTER TURNS (AS WELL AS DAY TURNS) NEED TO BE REEVALUATED. THEY MAY 'LOOK GOOD ON PAPER;' BUT THE SAFETY AND FATIGUE RELATED RISKS ARE TOO GREAT. PLTS CANNOT FLY THEM -- SO WHY SHOULD WE?

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of January 2009 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.