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IMPACT FACTORS OF ULTRA LONG 
RANGE FLIGHTS ON CABIN CREW 

AND PASSENGERS 

"Pushing the plane - pushing the people" 

by 

Michael John Haines 

A thesis submitted in partial fulfilment of 
the requirements for the degree of 

Master of Aviation 

Massey University 

Palmerston North 

New Zealand 

2006 



Abstract 

Long distance flight is an entrenched transportation mode that has brought with it a 

range of issues and impacts on the human cabin occupants. Development of ultra long 

range aircraft allows a single airline flight to last more than 16 hours in flight time 

which will have added impact on cabin crew and passengers. 

This study was conducted to analyse the varied and diverse issues that ultra long range 

flights present in relation to the cabin and its occupants. Research included two surveys, 

one survey to international airlines from around the world and one survey to New 

Zealand based cabin crew who operate on international flights. Both surveys analysed 

current long range flight impacts and allowed respondents to identify new ultra long 

range flight issues. 

The survey to organisations was responded to by seven airlines with three of the 

respondents currently operating ultra long range flights. The seven respondents rated 

operational issues as areas to be addressed including cabin crew issues related to duties, 

training and in-flight rest. Passenger related areas were mainly in relation to customer 

comfort. 

The cabin crew survey had 119 respondents with a range of international cabin crew 

experience up to 36 years and averaging 5.7 long range flights per month. The 

respondents rated their cabin safety role as extremely important but did not believe their 

employers rated their safety role as highly. Respondents rated fatigue, sleep and 

dehydration as the main health impacts from long haul flights and 97.3% believed these 

health impacts will increase with ultra long range flight. In regard to rest and rest 

facilities 62% of respondents believed the current rest periods provided were inadequate 

and 70.7% believed the current rest facilities were inadequate. There was found to be a 

strong statistical relationship between rest adequacy and rest facilities adequacy. In 

relation to ultra long range flight respondents rated in-flight rest facilities as the 

foremost item to address for cabin crew and cabin air quality as the foremost item to 

address for passengers. 

In general the survey of cabin crew identified the cabin environment, fatigue and lack of 

management emphasis on cabin crew as areas to be addressed for ultra long range flight. 

For passengers the cabin environment, facilities, and seating issues need addressing for 

ultra long range flight. 

11 



Further analysis based on the survey results found that ultra long range flight research 

has focussed on aircraft performance, engine reliability and the impacts of extended 

flight time on flight crew. Study on the impact of ultra long range flight on cabin crew 

and passengers are limited and lack the depth of research given to flight crew. 

This study has identified that aircraft manufacturers and airline operators need to 

research and address a range of issues related to the cabin, in particular impacts related 

to cabin crew and passengers. Aviation regulators need to address many areas to 

improve regulations related to cabin crew and passenger health and safety. These areas 

need to be researched and addressed to ensure the impacts of ultra long range flight are 

reduced. 

111 



Table of Contents 

Abstract .•...••••.•••••.••..•••••..•.•••••••.••••••••.•..•.•••••.•••.••••....••••••.•••••.•••••••.•••••.•.•••..•••••••.••• 11 

Table of Contents ............................................................................................................. iv 

List of tables ................................................................................................................. v1 

List of figures ................................................................................................................ vn 

Acknowledgments ......................................................................................................... viii 

Glossary 

Chapter 1 

1.1 
1.2 
1.3 
1.4 

Chapter 2 

Chapter 3 

3.1 
3.2 
"'"' .) . .) 
3.4 
3.5 
3.6 
3.7 

Chapter 4 

4.1 
4.2 

Chapter 5 

5.1 
5.2 

Chapter 6 

6.1 
6.2 
6.3 
6.4 
6.5 
6.6 
6.7 

Chapter 7 

7.1 
7.2 

............................................................................................................•.... IX 

Introduction ............................................................................................... 1 

Background ..................................................................................................... 1 
Ultra Long Range flight .................................................................................. 1 
ULR Research ................................................................................................. 3 
Organisation of this Thesis ............................................................................. 5 

Literature Search ....................................................................................... 6 

Ultra Long Range flight ............................................................................ 8 

What is ULR flight? ........................................................................................ 8 
Aircraft development ...................................................................................... 8 
ULR aircraft .................................................................................................... 9 
ULR flight routes .......................................................................................... 11 
When will flights begin? ............................................................................... 14 
Chapter Summary ......................................................................................... 15 
Research requirement ................................................................................... 16 

Survey to organisations ........................................................................... 17 

Method .......................................................................................................... 17 
Results ........................................................................................................... 19 

Survey to cabin crew ............................................................................... 23 

Method .......................................................................................................... 23 
Results ........................................................................................................... 25 

Analysis and Discussion ......................................................................... 37 

ETOPS and LROPS ...................................................................................... 37 
Diversions ..................................................................................................... 45 
Cabin Crew ................................................................................................... 59 
Cabin Crew health and safety ....................................................................... 68 
Cabin Environment ....................................................................................... 80 
Passengers - Customers or cargo? ................................................................ 99 
Chapter Summary ....................................................................................... 108 

Findings and Recommendations ........................................................... 109 

Findings ...................................................................................................... 109 
Recommendations ....................................................................................... 112 

lV 



APPENDIX 1 

Schematic view of cabin impacts .................................................................................. 115 

APPENDIX2 

Aircraft data ................................................................................................................. 116 

APPENDIX3 

Survey to organisations ................................................................................................. 117 

APPENDIX4 

Survey to cabin crew ..................................................................................................... 121 

APPENDIX5 

FAA ETOPS Regulations before and after proposed ETOPS rule changes ................. 128 

APPENDIX6 

FAA Polar routes regulatory requirements ................................................................... 129 

Bibliography .............................................................................................................. 130 

v 



List of tables 
Number Title Page 

Table 1 Ultra Long Range Capable Aircraft Statistics ........................................... 10 

Table 2 Polar Route Cost Savings .......................................................................... 13 

Table 3 Singapore Airlines ULR Departure Times ................................................ 15 

Table 4 ULR Flight - Summary and Individual Ranking ........................................ 19 

Table 5 Cabin Crew ULR Flight Areas to Address - Summary and Individual 
Ranking ...................................................................................................... 20 

Table 6 Passenger ULR Flight Areas to Address - Summary and Individual 
Ranking ...................................................................................................... 20 

Table 7 Analysis of in-flight rest adequacy and the number of years experience 
as international cabin crew ....................................................................... 30 

Table 8 Analysis of in-flight rest adequacy and the average number of flights 
per month as international cabin crew ...................................................... 31 

Table 9 Analysis of in-flight rest facilities adequacy and in-flight rest adequacy. 32 

Table 10 Boeing 777 Crew Rest Facilities ............................................................... 76 

Table 11 David Hiles Survey of Airline Seat Pitch ................................................... 97 

Table 12 Evening Standard Airline Seat Survey ....................................................... 98 

Vl 



list of figures 

Number Title Page 

Figure 1 Number of years international cabin crew experience of respondents ...... 26 

Figure 2 Importance respondent's Airline places on Cabin Crew safety role .......... 27 

Figure 3 Improvement in Crew Resource Management compared by flight crew 
involvement in training ............................................................................. 28 

Figure 4 In-flight rest adequacy compared by the number of years experience as 
international cabin crew ............................................................................ 29 

Figure 5 Jn-flight rest adequacy compared by the average number of flights per 
month as international cabin crew ............................................................ 30 

Figure 6 Comparison of cabin crew in-flight rest adequacy and cabin rest facility 
adequacy .................................................................................................... 31 

Figure 7 Importance of specific ULR issues to be addressed compared by number 
of years experience as international cabin crew ..................................... 33 

Figure 8 Structure of a Fatigue Risk Management System ....................................... 77 

Figure 9 Changes in Partial Pressure of Oxygen as altitude increases .................... 84 

Figure 10 Comparison of the quantity of aircraft cabin fresh air supply from various 
studies ........................................................................................................ 89 

Figure 11 Comparison of findings on aircraft cabin Relative Humidity levels .......... 91 

Vll 



Acknowledgments 

The author wishes to thank Professor Alan Williams and Doctor Bernie Frey for their 

guidance and support during my learning journey. Special thanks to my wife Phyllis for 

her support and patience especially her assistance in proof reading all my assignments. 

To my daughter Kaitlin who has grown up along with my aviation studies, thanks for 

assisting her Dad and understanding that I had my "homework" to do. 

Thanks to my work colleagues at the Civil Aviation Authority Rules Unit whose 

support, guidance and knowledge were important components of my thesis. The Civil 

Aviation Authority for its ongoing support and assistance. Claire Mistry, the CAA 

Librarian, an invaluable source of research material and whose happy disposition was 

always appreciated. 

Thanks to work mates and friends at Christchurch International Airport who put up with 

me during my early studies and who both assisted and supported me. 

A special acknowledgement to Hugh McCarroll, whose support started me on my 

journey, and who has been a mentor to me. 

Vlll 



Glossary 

ACI -Airports Council Intemational. An intemational association of airport operators. 

Airbus - Airbus Industries. European airliner manufacturer. 

Air operator - An organisation certificated and approved by an aviation regulatory authority to 
conduct air transport or commercial transport operations e.g. an airline. 

ASHRAE - American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers Inc. 

Boeing - Boeing Commercial Airplane Group. United States airliner manufacturer. 

Cabin crew - Persons assigned by an air operator to a safety role in the cabin area of an aircraft. Also 
known as Flight Attendants or Cabin Attendants. 

cfm - cubic feet per minute. 

Circadian rhythm - The intemal body biological clock that regulates human physiological functions 
according to the time of day through extemal cues and is reset every 24-25 hours. 

CO - Carbon Monoxide. Carbon monoxide is an odourless, colourless and toxic gas. 

C02 
- Carbon Dioxide. Carbon dioxide is a colourless odourless gas. 

CRM - Crew Resource Management. An airline training programme on team interaction and human 
factors. 

DVT - Deep Vein Thrombosis. The formation of a blood clot within a vein. 

EASA- European Aviation Safety Agency. An agency of the European Community tasked to further 
develop the work that the JAA performs in regard to setting aviation safety standards and regulations. 

ETOPS - Extended Twin Operations Performance Standards. Regulatory aircraft operational 
performance requirements for twin engme airliners that operate further than 60 minutes from a 
suitable diversion airport. 

FAA-The United States Federal Aviation Authority. 

F ARs -The United States Federal Aviation Regulations. 

Flight crew - Persons assigned by an air operator to operate an aircraft. Includes Pilots and Flight 
Engineers. 

FRMS - Fatigue Risk Management System. An integrated safety management system designed to 
ensure crew alertness and performance is not impaired due to fatigue. 

GPS - Global Positioning System. Satellite based navigation system. 

IATA - Intemational Air Transport Association. An intemational organisation whose represents 
member airlines and air operators. 

lX 



ICAO - International Civil Aviation Organisation. The specialized agency of the United Nations 
whose mandate is to ensure the safe, efficient and orderly evolution of international civil aviation. 
ICAO co-ordinates and establishes safety and technical standards for international civil aviation 
regulations with contracting states through establishment of standards and recommended practices. 

IF ALPA - International federation of airline pilot associations. The international organisation 
representing airline pilots. 

JAA - Joint Aviation Authorities. Associated body of European civil aviation authorities which aims 
to set common safety standards and regulations. 

JAR- Joint Aviation Regulations. Aviation regulations established by the JAA. 

Long Range Flights -Aircraft flights of 10 to 16 hours in duration. 

LROPS - Long Range Operations Performance Standards. Proposed new regulatory aircraft 
operational performance requirements for twin, triple and quad engine airliners that operate more 
than 180 minutes from a suitable airport. 

MEL - Minimum equipment list. A list of equipment that must be installed and operable for the 
aircraft to be considered all.worthy to operate. 

nm - Nautical mile. A nautical mile is 1,852 metres, or 1.852 kilometres. In the English 
measurement system, a nautical mile is 1.1508 miles, or 6,07 6 feet. 

NIOSH - National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (United States). The main US 
federal agency responsible for conducting research into occupational safety and health matters. 

NOTAM - Notice to all.men. Publication to inform pilots of new or changed aeronautical facilities, 
services, procedures, or hazards, temporary or permanent. 

NPRM- Notice of Proposed Rule Making. An aviation regulator document detailing proposed 
changes to a rule or regulation which is published for public comment on the proposal. 

NTSB - National Transport Safety Board of the United States of America. An independent US 
federal agency charged with investigating every civil aviation accident in the United States. 

0 3 
- Ozone gas. Ozone is a pale blue gas irritating to the nose and throat. 

ppm - Parts per million. 

Relative Humidity - The amount of water vapour in the air expressed as a percentage of the 
maximum water vapour that air at that temperature can hold. 

SARPS - ICAO prescribed Standards and Recommended Practices. A Standard is required to be 
complied with by ICAO member states. A Recommended Practice is not mandatory for ICAO 
member states but they should endeavour to comply \vith it. 

Seat Pitch - The distance from the back of an aircraft seat to the same position on an aircraft seat 
directly behind. 

ULR - Ultra Long Range Flights. Aircraft flights of greater than 16 hours in duration. 

WHO - World Healtl1 Organisation. The United Nations specialised agency for health. 

x