While being seated for departure on Saudi Arabian Airlines, flight SV0022, Oct 25th, from NYC to Riyadh, I was surprised to smell cigarette-smoke coming from the captain’s cockpit. At first I thought it might be smoke that has clung to one of the passenger’s clothes, but the smell grew stronger that there was no room for doubt. “Close the door,” a voice from the cockpit urged the stewardess as she exited.
With disbelief I asked the stewardess, “Is smoking allowed in here?”
She exaggerated her “Nooo, you can’t smoke in here. Smoking is banned on airplanes a long time ago.”
“That’s not what I mean. The captain is smoking…”
“Even if he’s smoking, you can’t smoke here!” She stared at me like I was cuckoo in the head.
“I mean…never mind!”
Truth is, I chickened out of taking the argument any further. I thought, maybe I’m just not used to sitting behind cockpits. Moreover, where will being cursed by a stewardess for an entire 11 hours get me! What does breathing another second-hand-smoke weigh—compared to landing safely by a captain who has his nerves (thanks to nicotine) calmed down?
The smoke reoccurred twice after: midway and on landing. Now that I am walking safely on planet earth I am free to wonder if smoking in cockpits is a forgiven sin within the politics of airlines, or if it is a serious violation of the law?
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Sunday, October 26, 2008
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22 comments:
Aysha, I adore your writings. Hope we become friends.
Samer
The answer to your question is probably the same as the answer to my question: "Are doctors allowed to smoke while examining patients?"
pleaseeee,... don't get me started!
Sure, by Aviation Law in the U.S.A and Saudi Arabia Cockpit crew only allowed to smoke in the cockpit for flights more that 4 hours, cockipt door must be closed and not in front of passangers.
working for 8 or 12 hours very hard on them smoking pilots, again it's a safety matter if you would say.
Sorry Madam, but this is the law.
Captain Lali.
No, they're not allowed to smoke. And you're not allowed to have premarital sex. And alcohol is forbidden from entering Saudi Arabia. Men and Women do not mix socially in public. Does it matter what the law states? You can do whatever you want as long that you don't bother anybody about it.
Fact is, yeah, some SV Pilots do smoke in cockpits.
You should make an official complaint now that you are safely back on land ;) Not sure what will be done about it... but that pilot neesd to know that there are indeed rules to be followed... International ones! arghhh!
easy guys, all I said was cockpit crew allowed to smoke while the door is closed and away from passengers. Pilots do follow procedures and law. And the law allow them to smoke for flights more than 4 hours. I am in the Aviation and I know what is the Aviation law. sorry guys but search for the facts and work with it. no need to jump with out fact.
again, sorry guys !
Thanx for the pointer, Louai. What you're saying makes sense. I tried googling it yesterday, found no official websites but did find some old press release. Could you please provide us with some aviation law links.
Fly safe ^_^
Most International Airlines banded somking inside the cockpit for pilots two years ago, however Saudia just started this program two years ago by STOP smoking for pilots for flights less than one hour, followed by STOP smoking for flights less than four hours, followed by STOP smoking for flights for flights less than eight untill total STOP smoking by he year 2010. I can not talk about other airlines rules. But in Saudia This is the rules and this is what the book say. Each airline has it's own rules and each country also has it's own rules while flying in the Airspace of that country.
Regards
Wow Ayesha you learn something new everyday but your serious about smoking in the cockpit i guess they don't abid international rules or these pilots make there rules up
the treaty says:
AVIATION MEDICINE (MED) SECTION
RELATED ICAO RESOLUTIONS
A29-15 | A33-12 | A35-12 | A35-13
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
A29-15: Smoking restrictions on international passenger flights
Whereas ICAO Assemblies have demonstrated a concern for and a contribution to human welfare in the quality of life and in the environment in which human beings work and engage in other pursuits, including matters related to engine emissions, the ozone layer and aircraft noise;
Whereas ICAO Assemblies have recognized a responsibility to achieve maximum compatibility between civil aviation operation and the quality of the human environment;
Whereas States have been recognizing increasingly and taking action against the known health hazards caused by tobacco smoke at the work place, in public buildings and transportation systems;
Whereas the build-up of "tar" and other residue from tobacco smoke on aircraft may adversely affect oxygen masks and contaminate environmental control systems;
Whereas the World Health Organization (WHO) and the International Labour Organization (ILO), consider that occupational safety and health are interrelated and cannot be separated; and
Whereas the World Health Organization (WHO) unanimously adopted a Resolution urging Member States to ban smoking in public conveyances where protection against involuntary exposure to tobacco smoke cannot be ensured and requested its Director General to collaborate with ICAO;
The Assembly:
1. Requests the ICAO Council to intensify its studies into the safety aspects of banning smoking on board aircraft;
2. Requests the ICAO Council, with the assistance and co-operation of the World Health Organization, to take appropriate measures to promote a smoke-free travel environment on all international flights;
3. Urges all Contracting States, in the meantime, to take necessary measures as soon as possible to restrict smoking progressively on all international passenger flights with the objective of implementing complete smoking bans by 1 July 1996;
4. Requests the ICAO Council to report on the implementation of this Resolution in all its aspects to the next ordinary Session of the Assembly.
and almost all states including saudi arabia are contracting states:
http://www.icao.int/cgi/goto_m.pl?cgi/statesDB4.pl?en
This is very funny to me. A pilot can smoke yet the passengers cant. And if you could detect the fumes why couldn't the smoke detector? Hmm maybe there is soemthign fishy withthe detectors by the cabin?
Asalamu Alaikum
I linked your blog to mine...
http://taraummomar.blogspot.com/
FiAmanAllah, Tara Umm Omar
I know this is an old post... but I had to add....
I had the very same experience a few weeks ago on a Saudi flight from Riyadh to Dammam... as I was in the first seat... the smell of the smoke was pretty strong... For Gods sake.. its a 30 minute flight!!!! I remembered your post as I sat there disgusted!
how about this...
1) being able to smoke at the gas station?
2) smoking in the malls?
3) smoking in the clearly stated NON-smoking area of a restaurant?
or on the topic of pilot topic:
(a true story) Saudi Captain XY was 2hrs late.he works for a royal fleet.any/all attempts to reach him remain futile.the plane left with the royalty after 3hrs delay flying by the previous pilot who was on duty.
NOTE: there is an aviation rule on flying time hours per 24hrs basis for pilot...again it dont apply here
Miss you here! :(
Assalamu Alikum dear Sister in Islam!
You’ve been added to ALL MUSLIMAH database of Muslimah Sister’s blogs!
http://allmuslimah.blogspot.com/
Please come and choose what category you’d like your blog name to appear under.
If the category isn’t there, suggest one!
If you’ve been placed in the wrong category by mistake please let me know immediately Be sure to add the “I support ALL MUSLIMAH blogs” icon to your blog so others can find you. Thank you for having a blog!
As you said. It's totally unwise to argue with a pilot over smoking, especially during a flight.
Probably it's better to propose smoking good-flavored shisha to him? It smells better. The waitress could light it up, and everyone would be happy.
i was in the cockpit in a flight from riyadh to NYC , the captain & co-pilot were smoking . when i asked how calm? he laughed. lol
Make a BIG stink out of this for sure!!
Hi, Aysha,
It's been almost 5 months now since we have heard from you. I really miss your blogs. Your can receive messages from us, but we can't read about what is happening in your life. That is sad.
I fear that authorities have told you to "cool it." You have never been particularly rebellious, but what probably terrifies the authorities is that you can think, and you express your thoughts with great eloquence. The world needs such people.
Martin Luther King, Jr., once said "Our lives begin to end the day we become silent about things that matter." Your silence is not golden, it's sad.
Dear ChrisLA,
Very thoughtful of you to send me this note. Two jobs, plus the travel, left me unbalanced. I am giving myself a few months to catch breath and give some thought to the focus of the blog now that I am in Saudi. With the pressure of schedule, blogging can turn into a venting spot, unless track is clear...
Many thanks again!
Hi, Aysha,
Glad to hear your are OK. Yes, we all get overly busy these days. That makes it hard to reflect. Looking forward to your future blogging.
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