Fatigue in Aviation
"My mind clicks on and off. I try letting one eyelid close at a
time while I prop the other with my will. But the effect is
too much, sleep is winning, my whole body argues dully that
nothing, nothing life can attain is quite so desirable as
sleep. My mind is losing resolution and control."
Charles Lindbergh about his 1927 transatlantic flight
Fatigue Education Goals
• Ask yourself these questions.
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Is your Operation looking at the role Fatigue may play in running the safest operation
possible?
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Why should we educate ourselves?
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Why should we regulate ourselves?
Why do we need to do this ourselves?
• Raise the Safety Bar for your Organization.
• Raise the Confidence of Regulators
• May be an alternative to regulatory programs.
• Fosters public recognition of a well managed SAFE Industry
• Heightened Customer Confidence/Assurance to Customers of a
Safe Operation
• Institutionalize best practices
• Pride in Achievement.
ONE SIZE DOES NOT FIT ALL!
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All Air Carriers do NOT operate in the same or even a similar manner. If we become
further regulated, the rules might fit some but will cause confusion and organizational
difficulty in others.
•
We are unique operations unlike Passenger 135/121 operations.
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Our operations may actually result in lower levels of daily flying and significant opportunities
for rest IF we monitor and manage ourselves.
•
Taking a “wait and see” attitude may only result in increased regulation which will have the
impact of imposing restrictions upon our ability to serve our customers in a cost effective
manner. This in turn could have dramatic economic implications to everyone involved… the
company, the customer, the pilot himself!
•
The role we play in educating our pilot group is crucial.
•
We instruct our pilots on the affects that Drugs and Alcohol have in their performance. It
is time to add to our Safety process by alerting them to the dangers of flying without
adequate rest.
•
With around-the-clock activities, our 24/7 society can keep us from allocating enough time
for sleep or put us on irregular schedules. Feeling sleepy is a common experience,
particularly for millions of Americans working non-traditional “shifts”. The body never
adjusts to “shift” work! Working nontraditional schedules is a risk for on-the-job
accidents. It is often difficult to get quality sleep during the day and support from others
is important but often difficult.
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Managing fatigue in crewmembers is a shared responsibility.
Things to Know!
• Causes of Fatigue and Risk Factors
• Symptoms of Fatigue
• What can you do as an Operator/Employer?
• Information for Your Pilots.
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CAUSES OF FATIGUE
Lack of sleep
Stress
Anxiety
Poor health
Disruption in Circadian Rhythm
(Circadian Rhythm is an issue even if a person has been “off” for a period
of time and allowed to rest.)
NOTE: These could also be symptoms of hypoxia or dehydration.
definition of circadian rhythm: internal clock in our brain that tells us we
should be awake and working when it is light out and sleeping when it is
dark out (or on the golf course when it is light out and dreaming about
being on the golf course when it is dark out!)
Risk Factors:
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Extended work and/or extended commuting schedule.
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Split shift work schedules.
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Sleep/Work periods conflicting with the circadian rhythm.
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Changing or rotating work schedules.
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Unpredictable work schedules.
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Lack of rest or nap periods during work.
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Sleep disruption.
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Inadequate exercise opportunities.
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Poor Diet.
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Environmental stressors.
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Personal issues…death in the family, divorce, birth of child, financial stress.
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A “second” job.
Symptoms of Fatigue
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Increased reaction time
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Indifference to performance (decreased situational awareness)
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Decreased ability to concentrate on tasks
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Fixation
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Short term memory loss
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Impaired decision making or judgment skills
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Distractibility
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Sloppy skills
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Reduced visual perception
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Loss of initiative
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Personality changes
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Depression
AS AN OPERATOR OR AS A PILOT:
• DO NOT PLACE YOUR OWN AGENDA AHEAD OF
SAFETY!
STUDIES HAVE SHOWN THAT FATIGUE IS A FACTOR IN AT LEAST 4-8%
OF AVIATION ACCIDENTS.
THE MAJORITY OF THESE INCIDENTS UNDER PART 135 WERE SHOWN
TO HAVE OCCURRED WHEN THE PILOT IN COMMAND
HAD BEEN ON DUTY LESS THAN 14 HOURS.
IT IS IMPERATIVE FOR BOTH OPERATORS AND EMPLOYEES
(PILOTS AND DISPATCHERS/FLIGHT FOLLOWERS)
TO RECOGNIZE THE ROLE FATIGUE MAY PLAY IN
ACCIDENTS AND INCIDENTS AND RECOGNIZE
THE SYMPTOMS IN TIME TO PREVENT THAT ACCIDENT.
What you should do
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As the employer/manager of the flight crew member that may be assigned duty
during evening, night-time or early morning (non-traditional times), do as much as
you can to minimize the risk:
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Give your crewmember adequate time to rest free from restriction interruption
or even the possibility of interruption.
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Don’t constantly change the shift assignment. Changes in work and rest
schedules that do not have a fixed pattern result in fatigue management
challenges that are extremely difficult to address.
Remember its not just how much time they have had off, it is how/where their
duty time falls into their circadian rhythm.
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Don’t use the shifting of regulations to “get-around” rest requirements.
Remember Fatigue is Fatigue whether you are flying Part 91, 135, or 121.
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Be prepared for contingencies when weather, traffic, late freight or mechanical
problems result in delays.
And more…….
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Educate your crewmembers on fatigue and the effects on a recurrent, not onetime basis.
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Encourage your crewmembers to live a healthy lifestyle.
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Promote an atmosphere where crewmembers feel free to come to management
with issues that may be affecting their sleep.
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If you provide crew quarters, be aware of environmental factors such as light,
noise, temperature and humidity.
As a Pilot…take care of YOU!
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As a flight crew member on duty during evening, night-time or early morning
hours, follow as many of these suggestions as possible:
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Avoid caffeine (coffee, tea, soft drinks, chocolate) and nicotine (cigarettes,
tobacco products) close to bedtime, which can delay the onset of sleep.
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Avoid alcohol as it can lead to disrupted sleep and also delay the onset of sleep.
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What we eat can be a determining factor in sleep quality and duration.
Examples: heavy or spicy food that can cause indigestion.
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Exercise regularly, but complete your workout at least 3 hours before bedtime.
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Establish a regular relaxing, bedtime routine (e.g. taking a bath or relaxing in a
hot-tub).
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Create a sleep-conducive environment that is dark, quiet and preferably cool and
comfortable.
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If you are in a hotel room, pay attention to the potential for noise sources as you
check in and request a different room if you are in an area of noise sources.
ITS IMPORTANT
• RECOGNIZE!
• EDUCATE!
• SUPPORT!
Thanks for the info:
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REFERENCES:
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US DOT Commercial Transportation Operator Fatigue Management Reference
issued July 2003
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US DOT SAFO 06004 dated 4-28-06 Approach and Landing Accident
Reduction: Sterile Cockpit, Fatigue
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Fatigue in Aviation by John A Caldwell from the Aviation Sustained Operations
Team, Fatigue Countermeasures Branch, Air Force Research Laboratory dated
July 2004
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Flight Safety Foundation Principles and Guidelines for Duty and Rest.
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NASA Crew Factors in Flight Operation XI: A Survey of Fatigue Factors in
Regional Airline Operations. Oct 1999
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11 Proven Sleep Tips to Help You Rest Well In Any Strange or Noisy Hotel by
Pilot Paul.