The secret place on the plane is called the crew archives, or in other words, the resting area of the crew members. Their positions on the plane were not the same.
According to CNN, in new aircraft such as Boeing 787 or Airbus A350, the crew rest area is located above the main cabin of the aircraft's upper body. But in older aircraft, they can also be in the cargo hold or simply in the main cabin.
The crew's resting area is packed: one for pilots and one for crew. The one for pilots is usually placed above the cockpit, including 2 upper sleepers and 1 reclining seat. The crew sleeper usually has six or more beds and is placed behind the cockpit, the rear of the aircraft or a food and beverage storage area.
The shape of a hotel is similar to a carrying goods
Airlines are not allowed to choose to structure crew rest areas when purchasing aircraft, but the main parameters are determined by management agencies such as the Federal Aviation Administration. For example, the crew's resting area is required to be in a "location where noise, odor and vibration have a minimal impact on sleep", they must be controlled in terms of temperature, allowing the crew to adjust the light.
The floor beds (or sleeping places) must be 78 x 30 inches (198 x 76 cm) and have at least 1 cubic meter of surrounding space.
The final result was a bit similar to the favorite hotel in Japan: windowless sleeping space, cramped but cozy, with electrical sockets, lights and all the necessary safety equipment such as gas masks, safety lights and internal communication systems
"They can be quite comfortable," said Susannah Carr, a United Airlines attendant who has worked on Boeing aircraft including the 787, 777 and 767.
According to Carr, these compartments have many better points than the merchant compartment. Specifically, the floor beds are wider than the first-class compartment (depending on the aircraft), so the crew members have more comfortable legs. However, because it was a bed, the crew members would not have enough space on their heads and privacy, creating a feeling of suffocation and cramped air.
Secret space
The crew's resting areas are designed to avoid attracting too much attention from passengers, no matter where they are. Some passersby may think it is just a wardrobe or even a toilet door and try to open it to "resolve their sadness".
Behind the door, there is often a small rest stop and an elevator to the upper floor, at least on the latest flights. The open-floor beds are on one side or one end so that crew members can enter. Sometimes, they jokingly call it a "grbage".
On slightly older aircraft such as the Airbus A330, the crew resting compartment can also be located in the cargo hold and have stairs to take them down. On the Boeing 767, the resting area is in the main cabin and is just the seats with curtains around them.
Most flight attendants like a resting space on a higher space than a covered seat because of their quietness and privacy.
Sequence of seniority
crew members on long-haul flights typically spend at least 10% of their flight time in resting areas. This figure falls to about 1.5 hours for each long-haul flight, but it can also vary depending on the airline and flight time, sometimes up to several hours.
At this time, crew members will have a complete break. The purpose is to stay alert and ready to serve the remaining time of the flight. However, many times, they still can't sleep because of time zones, noise or something else.
The assignment of crew members to rest was assigned to the chief attendant - the user of a special bed near the entrance of the rest area. And all assignments are based on seniority.
Specifically, the longer they have seniority, the better the crew members will enjoy the privilege. And one of those privileges is to choose the time to rest according to your wishes. The person with the highest seniority on the flight can choose which break they like and be approved for the list before the rest.
pilots' privileges
The rest area for pilots is separate from the area reserved for attendants, located close to the cockpit. Depending on the flight time, there may be a maximum of four pilots on the flight, but the two will always be in the cockpit.
Therefore, the pilot rest area has only two beds (or only one bed on old aircraft) but includes an additional double seat equipped with entertainment equipment on the flight that the flight attendant compartment does not have. In addition, the floor bed compartments are quite similar.
Passengers are prohibited from accessing the crew's rest area. So, don't try to find a way to sneak into a special area on this plane!
