49 passengers and personnel on board were equipped with EEG to monitor brainwave activity. The tests controlled melatonin levels so that data could be collected during the long flight. This is done to develop an aircraft that is specifically tailored to the needs of both passengers and staff. The tests aim to reduce pilot fatigue and reduce the jet lag of passengers. The airline partnered with two Australian universities to monitor how jet lag affected the health of passengers and crew members as they crossed several time zones.
After boarding the flight, passengers set their watches for Sydney time and kept awake until nightfall in Eastern Australia with lighting, exercise, caffeine and a spicy meal.
Six hours later, they were served a meal with plenty of carbohydrates, told to avoid screens, and the lights dimmed to facilitate sleep during the night.
University researchers connected
Professor Marie Carroll, a researcher from Sydney University who conducted the experiment, told AFP that she expects the innovative approach to lead to "absolutely minimal" jet lag.
- I expect they will have a normal day today and a normal night's sleep tonight, "she said, adding that she felt" incredibly good "considering the flight time.
"It's an experiment to see if the airlines can adjust their schedule for food, drink, exercise and lighting so that they synchronize with the destination time," she continues.
The Pilot Association is concerned
The four pilots on board - who rotated between their work passes - also carried devices that measured their brain waves and alertness. However, the Australian and International Pilots Association, which represents Qanta's pilots, has raised concerns about whether pilots will receive enough support during long flights to be able to perform while working and at the same time undergoing tests.
- We carry an activity clock, a light meter, and the tests are carried out for about three weeks. So we look at what happens before the flight, during the flight and the effects of these flights afterwards. With that information, we hope to gain much more insight into the effects of long-haul flights, says airline's first pilot Sean Golding.
The airline says that the test trips are just one aspect of the work they do to ensure that the flights are run safely. Last year, Qantas introduced the first direct flight from the Western Australian city of Perth to London, a 17-hour trip that is one of the longest passenger flights in the world.