Thursday, Nov 14, 2024

See inside the hidden airplane bunk rooms onboard Boeing's revolutionary 787 Dreamliner aircraft where pilots and flight attendants sleep

Inside the crew rest area of a Boeing 787 Dreamliner.
  • Pilots and flight attendants have their own compartments on wide-body aircraft where they get to rest on long-haul flights.
  • Crew rest areas are hidden away from the passenger cabin and are largely devoid of distractions to ensure maximum rest.
  • Pilots have separate rest areas from flight attendants and passengers will often not even notice when they're in use.
Long-haul flights are often the ideal setting for travelers to plug in and tune out as the miles pass outside the airplane window.

Flying American Airlines to Europe during the pandemic — American Airlines New York-Madrid Flight 2021
Flying American Airlines from New York to Madrid, Spain during the pandemic.
But not all who fly are doing so for leisure, especially those who are flying the plane and catering to passengers during the flight.

Emirates Boeing 777-300ER Flight Dubai to New York via Milan — Dubai Airshow Trip 2021
Flying on an Emirates Boeing 777-300ER from Dubai to New York via Milan, Italy.
Pilots and flight attendants are in work mode once they step onto an airplane and perform a variety of safety and service-related tasks, from making sure an aircraft is fit to fly to serving meals to passengers. And they need a break when a flight exceeds a certain duration.

Etihad Airways Boeing 787-10 Dreamliner "Greenliner" — Dubai Airshow 2021
An Etihad Airways Boeing 787-10 Dreamliner nicknamed the "Greenliner" at the Dubai Airshow 2021
Crew rest areas are hidden compartments where pilots and flight attendants can retreat for a few hours of shut-eye in between shifts.

Crew rest onboard SAS Scandinavian Airlines' Airbus A350-900 XWB — SAS Scandinavian Airlines Airbus A350-900 XWB Tour
Touring SAS Scandinavian Airlines' Airbus A350-900 XWB.
We went aboard two Boeing 787 Dreamliner aircraft and saw inside the secret bedrooms that flight and cabin crews use on long-haul flights. Here's what they were like.

Gulf Air Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner — Dubai Airshow 2021
A Gulf Air Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner at Dubai Airshow 2021.
Veritable bunk rooms in the sky, crew rest areas on wide-body aircraft such as the Dreamliner are minimalistic and only serve to ensure that crewmembers have a quiet area to take a break away from all passengers.

Boeing 787 Dreamliner Crew Rest Area — Airplane Secrets Dubai Airshow 2021
Inside the crew rest area of a Boeing 787 Dreamliner.
Pilots and flight attendants have separate rest compartments. The rest area for pilots on the Dreamliner is located directly behind the cockpit, just a few steps outside of the cockpit door.

Boeing 787 Dreamliner Crew Rest Area — Airplane Secrets Dubai Airshow 2021
Inside the crew rest area of a Boeing 787 Dreamliner.
Pilots very quickly go from being immersed in a technologically advanced flight deck to a very bare-bones rest area largely devoid of any technology.

Boeing 787 Dreamliner Crew Rest Area — Airplane Secrets Dubai Airshow 2021
Inside the crew rest area of a Boeing 787 Dreamliner.
Two bunks comprise the rest area complete with mattress pads and a pillow and blanket kit. A small dividing wall separates the two bunks if two pilots are using the space at a time.

Boeing 787 Dreamliner Crew Rest Area — Airplane Secrets Dubai Airshow 2021
Inside the crew rest area of a Boeing 787 Dreamliner.
Unlike in the passenger cabin below, there are no entertainment systems in the bunks, and pilots are simply expected to rest.

Boeing 787 Dreamliner Crew Rest Area — Airplane Secrets Dubai Airshow 2021
Inside the crew rest area of a Boeing 787 Dreamliner.
There is, however, a 110v AC power outlet that can be used to charge devices.

Boeing 787 Dreamliner Crew Rest Area — Airplane Secrets Dubai Airshow 2021
Inside the crew rest area of a Boeing 787 Dreamliner.
Back in the cockpit, the other pair of pilots are monitoring the flight to ensure that everything is going according to plan. One set of crew is usually tasked with takeoff and landing while the other monitors the aircraft during cruise flight; though, each airline has its own rules.

Boeing 787 Dreamliner Crew Rest Area — Airplane Secrets Dubai Airshow 2021
Inside the crew rest area of a Boeing 787 Dreamliner.
There's also a standalone seat in the crew rest area for pilots to use that's about the same size as an economy seat.

Boeing 787 Dreamliner Crew Rest Area — Airplane Secrets Dubai Airshow 2021
Inside the crew rest area of a Boeing 787 Dreamliner.
This seat, however, comes with its own entertainment screen, also similar to the one found in economy class.

Boeing 787 Dreamliner Crew Rest Area — Airplane Secrets Dubai Airshow 2021
Inside the crew rest area of a Boeing 787 Dreamliner.
But pilots that are down for rest should be solely focused on just that rather than watching movies or playing games.

Boeing 787 Dreamliner Crew Rest Area — Airplane Secrets Dubai Airshow 2021
Inside the crew rest area of a Boeing 787 Dreamliner.
Rest areas primarily combat fatigue and not getting proper amounts of rest can affect a pilot's ability to fly.

Boeing 787 Dreamliner Crew Rest Area — Airplane Secrets Dubai Airshow 2021
Inside the crew rest area of a Boeing 787 Dreamliner.
There's not much room for pilots to maneuver in the bunks but being able to lie flat is arguably more comfortable than sitting upright in a chair.

Boeing 787 Dreamliner Crew Rest Area — Airplane Secrets Dubai Airshow 2021
Inside the crew rest area of a Boeing 787 Dreamliner.
Hangars are available to hang up any coats or clothing.

Boeing 787 Dreamliner Crew Rest Area — Airplane Secrets Dubai Airshow 2021
Inside the crew rest area of a Boeing 787 Dreamliner.
And a phone is available to communicate with other members of the crew without leaving the rest area.

Boeing 787 Dreamliner Crew Rest Area — Airplane Secrets Dubai Airshow 2021
Inside the crew rest area of a Boeing 787 Dreamliner.
Pilots can also control the temperature within the space down to the exact degree.

Boeing 787 Dreamliner Crew Rest Area — Airplane Secrets Dubai Airshow 2021
Inside the crew rest area of a Boeing 787 Dreamliner.
And once it's time to fly again, it's just a short walk to the cockpit to relieve the other set of crew. Most passengers will never notice that a pilot has even left the cockpit thanks to the strategic location of the rest area.

Boeing 787 Dreamliner Crew Rest Area — Airplane Secrets Dubai Airshow 2021
Inside the crew rest area of a Boeing 787 Dreamliner.
The crew rest for flight attendants, alternatively, is located in the very back of the Dreamliner next to the rear galley.

Boeing 787 Dreamliner Crew Rest Area — Airplane Secrets Dubai Airshow 2021
Inside the crew rest area of a Boeing 787 Dreamliner.
A locked door that says “crew only” in capital letters ensures that wandering passengers can’t unknowingly find the space while looking for the lavatory.

Boeing 787 Dreamliner Crew Rest Area — Airplane Secrets Dubai Airshow 2021
Inside the crew rest area of a Boeing 787 Dreamliner.
The entrance is discrete enough so that the average passenger won't notice a flight attendant climbing into the bunk when it's time for rest.

Boeing 787 Dreamliner Crew Rest Area — Airplane Secrets Dubai Airshow 2021
Inside the crew rest area of a Boeing 787 Dreamliner.
It’s a steep climb up into the rest area that features six bunks.

Boeing 787 Dreamliner Crew Rest Area — Airplane Secrets Dubai Airshow 2021
Inside the crew rest area of a Boeing 787 Dreamliner.
Some flight attendants in the rest area will be resting just feet above where passengers sit in the economy class cabin.

Boeing 787 Dreamliner Crew Rest Area — Airplane Secrets Dubai Airshow 2021
Inside the crew rest area of a Boeing 787 Dreamliner.
And just like in the pilot rest area, the space is similarly devoid of any entertainment or distraction as bunks only feature the essentials.

Boeing 787 Dreamliner Crew Rest Area — Airplane Secrets Dubai Airshow 2021
Inside the crew rest area of a Boeing 787 Dreamliner.
There's very little room to stand and the bunk almost looks as if it's out of a science fiction movie given the minimal and modern aesthetic.

Boeing 787 Dreamliner Crew Rest Area — Airplane Secrets Dubai Airshow 2021
Inside the crew rest area of a Boeing 787 Dreamliner.
Each bunk is identical with a mattress pad accompanied by a pillow and blanket kit.

Boeing 787 Dreamliner Crew Rest Area — Airplane Secrets Dubai Airshow 2021
Inside the crew rest area of a Boeing 787 Dreamliner.
Curtains throughout the rest area offer a modicum of privacy as flight attendants take their breaks.

Boeing 787 Dreamliner Crew Rest Area — Airplane Secrets Dubai Airshow 2021
Inside the crew rest area of a Boeing 787 Dreamliner.
The ultimate goal, once again, is for flight attendants to rest in this space so the fewer distractions, the better.

Boeing 787 Dreamliner Crew Rest Area — Airplane Secrets Dubai Airshow 2021
Inside the crew rest area of a Boeing 787 Dreamliner.
There are no entertainment screens or even windows that might act as a distraction to rest.

Boeing 787 Dreamliner Crew Rest Area — Airplane Secrets Dubai Airshow 2021
Inside the crew rest area of a Boeing 787 Dreamliner.
A phone in the rest area allows flight attendants to communicate with other members of the crew throughout the aircraft.

Boeing 787 Dreamliner Crew Rest Area — Airplane Secrets Dubai Airshow 2021
Inside the crew rest area of a Boeing 787 Dreamliner.
And when it's time to return to the cabin, a small mirror lets flight attendants check their appearance before returning to work.

Boeing 787 Dreamliner Crew Rest Area — Airplane Secrets Dubai Airshow 2021
Inside the crew rest area of a Boeing 787 Dreamliner.
Some airlines don’t even need to use the crew rest areas that come standard on the aircraft. Gulf Air, for example, only flies as far as Bangkok, Thailand from its hub in Manama, Bahrain with a maximum scheduled flight time of around seven and a half hours.

Boeing 787 Dreamliner Crew Rest Area — Airplane Secrets Dubai Airshow 2021
Inside the crew rest area of a Boeing 787 Dreamliner.
All of Gulf Air's other routes are short enough that flight attendants aren't required or don't need to rest in the dedicated crew rest area.

Boeing 787 Dreamliner Crew Rest Area — Airplane Secrets Dubai Airshow 2021
Inside the crew rest area of a Boeing 787 Dreamliner.
But whether they use the space or not, flight attendants are still provided training that includes going up into the crew rest area.

Boeing 787 Dreamliner Crew Rest Area — Airplane Secrets Dubai Airshow 2021
Inside the crew rest area of a Boeing 787 Dreamliner.
That training includes learning how to use the crew rest area's escape hatches — located directly above the last few rows of the economy class cabin — should the need arise.

Boeing 787 Dreamliner Crew Rest Area — Airplane Secrets Dubai Airshow 2021
Inside the crew rest area of a Boeing 787 Dreamliner.
Boeing's 787 Dreamliner models are intended for long-haul travel and can fly distances of up to 7,565 nautical miles. Flights on the aircraft as a result can last longer than 17 hours, well beyond the normal eight-hour working day.

Boeing 787 Dreamliner Crew Rest Area — Airplane Secrets Dubai Airshow 2021
Inside the crew rest area of a Boeing 787 Dreamliner.

Source: Boeing

Qantas also once used the Dreamliner to fly from New York all the to Sydney, Australia., a nearly 20-hour flight during which rest was similarly a necessity.

Boeing 787 Dreamliner Crew Rest Area — Airplane Secrets Dubai Airshow 2021
Inside the crew rest area of a Boeing 787 Dreamliner.

I flew on Qantas' 'Project Sunrise,' a nonstop flight from New York to Sydney, Australia, that took almost 20 hours and covered nearly 10,000 miles — here's what it was like

Airlines like Qantas are pushing the bounds of aircraft technology to offer longer and longer non-stop flights, making these rest areas all the more important.

Boeing 787 Dreamliner Crew Rest Area — Airplane Secrets Dubai Airshow 2021
Inside the crew rest area of a Boeing 787 Dreamliner.
Different aircraft have different rest areas, some larger and some smaller than on the Dreamliner.

Boeing 787 Dreamliner Crew Rest Area — Airplane Secrets Dubai Airshow 2021
Inside the crew rest area of a Boeing 787 Dreamliner.
But regardless of size, crew rest areas principle serve as quiet and private areas away from the distractions of the passenger cabin below.

Boeing 787 Dreamliner Crew Rest Area — Airplane Secrets Dubai Airshow 2021
Inside the crew rest area of a Boeing 787 Dreamliner.
Read the original article on Business Insider
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By: [email protected] (Thomas Pallini)
Title: See inside the hidden airplane bunk rooms onboard Boeing's revolutionary 787 Dreamliner aircraft where pilots and flight attendants sleep
Sourced From: www.businessinsider.com/inside-the-secret-crew-rest-compartments-boeing-787-dreamliner-plane-2022-1
Published Date: Tue, 27 Jun 2023 15:25:50 +0000

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