Do Pilots Eat in the Cockpit During Long Flights?

The question of whether pilots and crew members consume food and drink during long flights is a common one. In reality, pilots do eat and drink, though non-alcoholic beverages, inside the flight deck. However, there have been rare instances where their actions have led to dangerous scenarios. This article explores the practices and regulations surrounding pilot meals during flights, particularly focusing on the case where drinks were spilled in the cockpit and caused engine shutdowns.

Practical Meal Practices in Cockpits

While the FAA mandates that flights over 8 hours must have relief pilots to enable sleep and proper meal breaks, the reality is that pilots often need to eat regardless of the duration of the flight. In the U.S. Military, flight crews order food for their missions, with options ranging from a simple snack to a boxed lunch. Typically, the menu includes coffee, two sandwiches, an apple, half a pint of milk, and sometimes a candy bar. For shorter missions, a snack is sufficient, containing fewer items, such as a coffee pack, two sandwiches, and a candy bar.

In some cases, a Loadmaster might pick up TV dinners from the base commissary. The aircraft has a small oven for heating and cooking meals, though it is quite limited in size.

Pilots often bring personal items, such as cinnamon, to create their own treats, like a baked apple by simply stuffing sliced apples into a paper cup, adding sugar, and heating them in the oven.

Regulations and Safety Guidelines

FAA regulations state that pilots should not eat the same meal to prevent the spread of food poisoning. This ensures that if one pilot becomes ill, the other can continue to operate the aircraft. Additionally, unions have played a significant role in regulating pilot meals and safety during long flights.

At my airline, we can order meals online from a menu provided by the union contract, which guarantees that all flights will be catered with a cooler full of soft drinks and water, and a thermos of coffee. In the event that the on-board coffee maker is inoperative, this ensures that an alternative is available.

A humorous anecdote from UPS’s early days illustrates the impact of collective bargaining. Initially, the pilots, who were members of the Teamsters union, had access to coffee makers on their aircraft. After the union’s truck drivers learned about this perk, they demanded the same for themselves, leading UPS to remove the coffee makers from the planes.

Occurrences of Safety Concerns

One incident that garnered significant attention involved two new Airbus planes, which experienced engine shutdowns during flights due to the spillage of drinks in the cockpit. Such incidents serve as stark reminders of the strict safety protocols in place, highlighting the importance of pilot adherence to these guidelines.

In conclusion, while pilots do consume food and drink during long flights, these actions are carefully regulated to ensure crew health and safety. Understanding these practices and regulations can provide better insight into the daily challenges that flight crew face.