A B777 relief pilot reported that as she is about to relieve the flying first officer; he nods off a...

Attributes
ACN	1014744
Time
Date	201206
Place
Locale Reference	ZZZZ.ARTCC
State Reference	US
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Aircraft 1
Make Model Name	B777 Undifferentiated or Other Model
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Flight Phase	Cruise
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Function	Relief Pilot Pilot Not Flying
Qualification	Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP)
Experience	Flight Crew Last 90 Days 130 Flight Crew Total 14000 Flight Crew Type 1200
Person 2
Function	First Officer Pilot Flying
Qualification	Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP)
Experience	Flight Crew Last 90 Days 150 Flight Crew Total 15000 Flight Crew Type 5000
Events
Anomaly	No Specific Anomaly Occurred All Types

Narrative:

I entered the cockpit after my rest break. The captain stepped back for a bathroom break. The copilot was alert; however; he shut his eyes and then his head tilted down. When the captain returned after a few minutes; it was copilot's turn to take a rest break. He took several minutes to arise. I called his name; pushed on his shoulder; then pulled back his chair. He arose and went back for his rest break seeming groggy. Because he took longer than normal to arise; and would now be in the back; out of sight and alone for two hours on his break; we wanted to confirm that nothing medically wrong had occurred. The captain talked to dispatch then medlink; then solicited the help of a doctor in first class. He was examined and passed all tests for alertness; understanding; reactions; blood pressure; etc. This was done within about 15 minutes of the initial occurrence. He occupied the jumpseat after his rest break and for the landing; only as a precaution. For the duration of the flight he appeared normal in every way and performed pilot duties normally.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: A B777 Relief Pilot reported that as she is about to relieve the flying First Officer; he nods off and was very difficult to awaken. As a precaution the Captain had the First Officer examined by an on board physician and the relief pilot assume the First Officer's position.

Narrative: I entered the cockpit after my rest break. The Captain stepped back for a bathroom break. The copilot was alert; however; he shut his eyes and then his head tilted down. When the Captain returned after a few minutes; it was copilot's turn to take a rest break. He took several minutes to arise. I called his name; pushed on his shoulder; then pulled back his chair. He arose and went back for his rest break seeming groggy. Because he took longer than normal to arise; and would now be in the back; out of sight and alone for two hours on his break; we wanted to confirm that nothing medically wrong had occurred. The Captain talked to Dispatch then Medlink; then solicited the help of a doctor in first class. He was examined and passed all tests for alertness; understanding; reactions; blood pressure; etc. This was done within about 15 minutes of the initial occurrence. He occupied the jumpseat after his rest break and for the landing; only as a precaution. For the duration of the flight he appeared normal in every way and performed pilot duties normally.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of July 2013 and automatically converted to unabbreviated mixed upper/lowercase text. This report is for informational purposes with no guarantee of accuracy. See NASA's ASRS site for official report.

A B777 relief pilot reported that as she is about to relieve the flying first officer; he nods off and was very difficult to awaken. As a precaution the captain had the first officer examined by an on board physician and the relief pilot assume the first officer's position.