Fatigue management
Today we will discuss fatigue and tiredness as phenomena, and their impact on flight safety. How do pilots cope with 6-8 hour legs? What are the ways to stay awake at work? We will find out today!
Fatigue management
Reading time: ~5-7 minutes
Pilot fatigue is a highly researched topic, as it can affect flight safety, efficiency, productivity, and personal health. Fatigue is recognized as one of the main factors that can impair a person's performance and is cited as a cause of accidents and incidents in many industries, not just aviation.
It is important for us to understand and recognize the physiological and psychological signs and consequences of fatigue. Once we learn to identify the signs and symptoms of actual or impending fatigue, we can apply proven methods to avoid its negative consequences.
It is important for us to understand and recognize the physiological and psychological signs and consequences of fatigue. Once we learn to identify the signs and symptoms of actual or impending fatigue, we can apply proven methods to avoid its negative consequences.
What's happening?
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Causes of fatigue
Fatigue that can apper during both long and short-haul legs is tied to quality sleep, sleep deprivation and disturbance of circadian rhythm.
Pilots report that night flights and changing time zones are the most significant factors causing fatigue during long flights.
The most studied example is two consecutive night flights from Paris to New York and back. This shift typically involves 48 hours with a short stop of around 22 hours in the middle. The shift of more than 6 time zones combined with monotonous flight over the Atlantic Ocean significantly affects the crew's performance.
Poor quality and quantity of sleep, along with an extended period of wakefulness before departure, increase fatigue during the night return flight and have a significant impact on flight safety.
The most studied example is two consecutive night flights from Paris to New York and back. This shift typically involves 48 hours with a short stop of around 22 hours in the middle. The shift of more than 6 time zones combined with monotonous flight over the Atlantic Ocean significantly affects the crew's performance.
Poor quality and quantity of sleep, along with an extended period of wakefulness before departure, increase fatigue during the night return flight and have a significant impact on flight safety.
For short flights (up to 3 hours one way), the main causes of fatigue are multi-leg flights and early wake-ups. Most pilots are unable to compensate for early wake-up times by going to bed early. Instead, they go to bed at their usual time and end up losing about an hour of sleep. Additionally, time constraints, a high number of legs in a day, and consecutive workdays increase fatigue resulting from short flights.
USA's studies have shown that fatigue was directly linked to 77 (3.8%) out of 2006 incidents reported by pilots to the NASA Aviation Safety Reporting System. When the analysis was expanded to include all factors that could be directly or indirectly related to fatigue, the number of incidents potentially associated with it increased to 426 (21.2%). This is a significantly alarming portion of all incidents, indicating significant potential safety risks associated with pilot fatigue.
Manifestations of Fatigue
Fatigue can manifest both physically and psychologically. Let's examine some of the main manifestations of fatigue.
- General feeling of tiredness
Difficulties in memorizing informationLack of concentration
1 Reduction in vigilance
Periods of inattention2- Growing and irresistible need to sleep
Slow understanding
3 - Nodding off/inadvertent napping
Tendency to forget information and actions
4 - Lethargy
Bad mood
5 - Slowed reaction time
Poor decisions
Apathetic
6
Pilots often describe fatigue differently depending on whether they are talking about themselves or how fatigue affects other crew members.
When considering themselves, pilots note only a slight decrease in alertness and vigilance, along with a sleepy state. However, when considering other crew members in the cockpit, they often focus on psychological and more serious manifestations, such as increased response time and minor errors, as well as reduced social communication and poor message reception.
This reaction is not surprising, as most people do not like to believe that their performance has deteriorated, but they are readily willing to point it out when it happens to others.
When considering themselves, pilots note only a slight decrease in alertness and vigilance, along with a sleepy state. However, when considering other crew members in the cockpit, they often focus on psychological and more serious manifestations, such as increased response time and minor errors, as well as reduced social communication and poor message reception.
This reaction is not surprising, as most people do not like to believe that their performance has deteriorated, but they are readily willing to point it out when it happens to others.
The tired person is more easily angered, loses control, perceives criticism worse, and reacts slower or less adequately to the surrounding situation. Do not neglect rest!
Strategies for Fatigue Management
Following a few simple steps can help us avoid costly mistakes due to physical or mental manifestations of fatigue during both long and short flights.
1
Maintain a consistent sleep schedule
Try to sleep the same amount you usually do at home within each 24-hour period.
2
Do not sleep too much right before a flight
If you are about to start working, do not sleep for more than 45 minutes! You may not have enough time to fully wake up, and you will start the flight with reduced performance.
3
Do not eat at the same time
Fatigue can hit harder after eating. Therefore, to prevent all crew members from "falling out" at the same time, alternate them - or don't eat at all during long night flights.
4
Diversify the routine
Communicate, reason, keep yourself and your colleagues alert to reduce monotony in the cockpit and optimize rest during the flight.
A good way to ensure that at least one pilot is not suffering from fatigue is to alternate activity and rest between members of the flight crew. This is best achieved by alternating phases of passive and active vigilance every 20-40 minutes with formal handovers at the end of each period. Active vigilance phases involve conversations, flight management-related tasks, and varied motor activity associated with mental tasks such as navigation and system management. Do not eat during active vigilance phases!
Passive vigilance phases involve lower levels of direct flight monitoring. You can eat or snack, but it is preferable to do so at the beginning of these phases. Non-flight-related actions are encouraged during passive vigilance stages, such as reading newspapers. It is recommended to use passive vigilance phases to take a nap of 20 to 40 minutes during the night or if you are sleep deprived.
Alternating phases of active and passive vigilance is most effective during calm cruise periods. Do not forget to announce the end of each active-passive vigilance phase to your teammates so they know exactly which phase they should be in.
Passive vigilance phases involve lower levels of direct flight monitoring. You can eat or snack, but it is preferable to do so at the beginning of these phases. Non-flight-related actions are encouraged during passive vigilance stages, such as reading newspapers. It is recommended to use passive vigilance phases to take a nap of 20 to 40 minutes during the night or if you are sleep deprived.
Alternating phases of active and passive vigilance is most effective during calm cruise periods. Do not forget to announce the end of each active-passive vigilance phase to your teammates so they know exactly which phase they should be in.
Your level of fatigue during short-haul flights is influenced by the combination of your flight schedule and the number of flights you make in a day.
In general, morning flights cause more fatigue than daytime flights or alternating morning and daytime shifts. Adhering to the following rules regarding duty scheduling and work organization can help avoid fatigue problems on short flights.
In general, morning flights cause more fatigue than daytime flights or alternating morning and daytime shifts. Adhering to the following rules regarding duty scheduling and work organization can help avoid fatigue problems on short flights.
1
Limit the number of consecutive morning shifts (maximum of two days)
Early flights at 7 am mean that you need to wake up no later than 4 am - a series of such flights can throw you off track, even if they are short.
2
Limit the number of consecutive night shifts (maximum of three days)
A series of night flights disrupts internal rhythms, significantly impacting not only performance but also health.
3
Avoid short weekends that end late and start early
Incomplete rest significantly reduces performance and accumulates long-term consequences.
4
Avoid short turnarounds (less than 35 minutes between arrival and departure)
Time deficits do not account for unexpected events or the need for crew rest.
Summary
Fatigue and tiredness are dangerous factors, especially in aviation. The essence of our work is that we have to be functional at different times, often living outside our internal cycles. This has direct consequences for our health and flight safety, so it is very important to understand and address this condition.
Certain factors, such as night flights, time zone changes, and consecutive early awakenings, contribute to increased fatigue. For short flights, time constraints, the number of flights in a day, and consecutive shifts can lead to increased fatigue. For long flights, the main issues are disruption of circadian rhythms and sleep deprivation.
Common signs of fatigue include decreased alertness and attention, lack of concentration, increased reaction time, minor errors, reduced social communication, and poor information processing.
Key strategies to combat fatigue include developing a good sleep routine, avoiding alcohol or caffeine consumption, effective flight scheduling, and proper nutrition.
By understanding the nature of fatigue and implementing strategies to manage it, we can love our work without compromising our health or flight safety.
That's something to be happy about :).
Certain factors, such as night flights, time zone changes, and consecutive early awakenings, contribute to increased fatigue. For short flights, time constraints, the number of flights in a day, and consecutive shifts can lead to increased fatigue. For long flights, the main issues are disruption of circadian rhythms and sleep deprivation.
Common signs of fatigue include decreased alertness and attention, lack of concentration, increased reaction time, minor errors, reduced social communication, and poor information processing.
Key strategies to combat fatigue include developing a good sleep routine, avoiding alcohol or caffeine consumption, effective flight scheduling, and proper nutrition.
By understanding the nature of fatigue and implementing strategies to manage it, we can love our work without compromising our health or flight safety.
That's something to be happy about :).
Name of article: Fatigue Management
Release date: 6/29/2023
Acrticle author: Nikita Pavlov
Release date: 6/29/2023
Acrticle author: Nikita Pavlov
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