With the approval of the “Air Operations Directive” of Turkish Airlines by the General Directorate of Civil Aviation, the pilots were allowed to pray in the cockpit, except during critical stages of flight.
As reported by the state-run Anadolu Agency, Turkish Airlines’ flight operations directive includes, in its Article C, the importance of Mental Health and physics of pilots throughout the flight. It is therefore understood that short breaks for stretching or light exercise during non-critical phases of the flight may be taken.
Furthermore, theitem C provided for the possibility for pilots to carry out their religious beliefs in the cockpit through prayers. The directive states that it is prohibited to interrupt or affect the critical flight phases through prayers and other manifestations of faith. It is therefore essential that pilots respect this directive and follow the instructions to the letter to avoid any problems of flight safety.
It is worth noting that with the new guidelines, Turkish Airlines pilots will have an easier time practicing their religion during flights. The company therefore hopes that this initiative can contribute to the satisfaction of its crew members and, consequently, to the safety and quality of flights.
This announcement comes at the beginning of August, Turkish Airlines (THY) fired a pilot in command for opposing cockpit prayer regulations. He had replied to his alter ego in the cockpit that the new regulations on prayer in the cockpit that management intended to establish, were “risky in terms of flight safety”. After the co-pilot complained about the pilot to management, Turkish fired the latter a few days later. THY CEO Ahmet Bolat reportedly told the pilot who asked him the reason for his dismissal: “I don’t have to give reasons, I fire whoever I want “.
The fired pilot gave his version to Gazete Duvar, explaining that the co-pilot had declared that he was fasting during the flight which took place during the Ramadanto which the first replied that “fasting during a 12-hour flight is risky.” The (licensed) pilot added: “I am Muslim too. But what we do (as a pilot) is risky.” Response from the co-pilot: “I can pray while you go to the bathroom”. The captain finally replied: “The toilet is a necessity, but you can pray after the flight. » The fired pilot also reveals that the person who complained was close to two executives of the Turkish airline.
