Could you handle a non-stop 20 hour flight?

Qantas Airways will be operating three ultra-long-haul research flights from New York and London to Sydney carrying mostly Qantas employees (with a maximum of 40 people per flight).

These flights will be used to monitor how people cope physically with extended periods in the air, before the company launches these direct flights, which are proposed for 2022.

The Australian airline announced that those in the cabin will be fitted with wearable technology devices and take part in specific experiences during the almost 20-hour-long flights.

“Scientists and medical experts from the Charles Perkins Centre will monitor sleep patterns, food and beverage consumption, lighting, physical movement and inflight entertainment to assess impact on health, wellbeing and body clock,” Qantas said in a statement.

“Pilots will wear an EEG (electroencephalogram) device that tracks brain wave patterns and monitors alertness. The aim is to establish data to assist in building the optimum work and rest pattern for pilots operating long haul services. Researchers from Monash University will work with pilots to record crew melatonin levels before, during and after the flights.”

Speaking to Bloomberg, Qantas CEO Alan Joyce said, “the things we learn on these flights will be invaluable.’ He also described the proposed commercial flight services as ‘aviation’s final frontier.”

The three test flights will be executed with the new Boeing 787-9s, although Qantas still has to make the final call between using either Boeing’s 777-8X or the ultra-long-range Airbus A350-900ULR and -1000ULR for the planned commercial flights.

“This will represent the world’s first flight by a commercial airline direct from New York to Sydney and only the second time a commercial airline has flown direct from London to Sydney,” says the Australian Airline.

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