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TOKYO - A pilot for Japan's All Nippon Airways fell asleep at the controls for several minutes while on a domestic flight and had to be awakened by a government inspector who was traveling in the cockpit.
A spokesman for the airline said on Friday that the 50-year-old pilot, whose name was not released, dozed off while flying on March 23 from Tokyo's Haneda airport to the western prefecture of Yamaguchi, a trip that takes about an hour.

An official from the Transport Ministry, who was in the cockpit for a routine inspection, woke the pilot after he fell asleep as the plane was cruising at 12,000 meters (36,000 feet), but he dozed off again and had to be awakened a second time.

"He was asleep for two or three minutes," the spokesman said.

The spokesman said there was no danger to passengers since the plane was on auto-pilot and the co-pilot was also present. The pilot, who has been suspended, is undergoing medical tests.

Last year, a Japanese bullet train driver fell asleep at the controls while his train was traveling at 270 km (168 miles) an hour. He was found to suffer from sleep apnea, in which a person repeatedly stops breathing during sleep, causing daytime drowsiness.


Dave

At least he wasn't drunk at the controls like thoes pilots in the States.  ;D

Posted by: orenda635 Posted on: Today at 2:07pm
At least he wasn't drunk at the controls like thoes pilots in the States.

Or like a few members we know!

Did it not say the co-pilot was there? I wouldn't be suprised if snoozing in the cockpit wasn't common practice. After all, once your up to cruising altitude what else have you to do?

[quote]Posted by: Woodlouse2002:

[quote]

Not really a big deal.  I'm with Woody on this one.

Or like a few members we know!

Dave err what are you trying to say?

Did it not say the co-pilot was there? I wouldn't be suprised if snoozing in the cockpit wasn't common practice. After all, once your up to cruising altitude what else have you to do?

If I wasn't busy with the radio or instruments, I would have my eyes glued to the window! (Unless there was clouds or a stupid ocean  ::))

Well, lets look at it this way. If the pilot is asleep, then there is no way he's going to get itchy fingers and press the big red button labled "DO NOT PRESS".

However, if he sleepwalks then there could be a problem...

Did it not say the co-pilot was there? I wouldn't be suprised if snoozing in the cockpit wasn't common practice. After all, once your up to cruising altitude what else have you to do?

Bring a good book...

Maybe he'd finished his book by that time. Personally, i'd rather sleep.

Of all the flights the pilot decided to snooze off from, he had to pick on with a government inspector riding along in the cockpit

Of all the flights the pilot decided to snooze off from, he had to pick on with a government inspector riding along in the cockpit

Aye, Lol! It could have been worse if there was a journalist on board. Just imagine the front page of a Tokyo newspaper, lol!
But after all the co-pilot was there. He would of known that the pilot was asleep and cuz the plane was on auto he probably left him to it.

Ben
Ben

Personally, I don't see a problem with a pilot catching a nap during the flight.  In fact, they probably should have sleeping quarters on the plane.  I would rather have my PIC refreshed and ready to go for landing, rather than one who has just done that little hop from New York to Paris or further. I say let them sleep.