................................................................................................................................................................
Causes, Symptoms, and
Effects
BY SARINA HOUSTON
For years, pilot
fatigue has been a real issue.
Airline pilots, as
well as cargo, corporate and charter pilots, can all face fatigue while on the
job.
While pilot fatigue
can be common and overlooked, it poses a very troubling threat to aviation
safety and should be taken seriously.
There is a long
history of debates between regulatory agencies, airline pilots and unions, and
aircraft operators over pilot fatigue issues.
Today, the issue is
still being argued as the industry tries to find a common solution to decrease
the risks associated with fatigue.
The Problem With
Pilot Fatigue
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Charles Lindbergh
fought to stay awake on his record-breaking 33.5-hour transatlantic flight from
New York to Paris on the Spirit of St. Louis.
Long-haul pilots have
reported falling asleep at the controls. Cargo pilots that fly at night face
fatigue from challenging the body's natural internal clock.
The Lindbergh flight
provides a great example for the real issue today -- fatigue is an acceptable
risk and one that isn't given enough credit.
Lindbergh flew from
New York to Paris without falling asleep. Similarly, pilots, today get away
with flying tired all the time.
If you ask an average
pilot how much sleep he got the night before a flight, it's probably on par
with the average American, which is about six and a half hours.
It might be an
acceptable amount of sleep if you have a desk job.
But the additional
stressors of a pilot's 10-hour workday, long commutes, lengthy flights,
terrible airport diets, long layovers in airport lounges, and potential jet-lag
increase operational risks for pilots.
One more thing:
pilots, like everyone else, face unique family situations, financial stress and
other life stress outside of work.
In general, your
average pilot might be physically, mentally and emotionally exhausted when he
takes the controls.
But time after time,
the plane takes off and lands without incident, making fatigue a somewhat
socially acceptable risk in the aviation world.
Causes
Obviously, fatigue is
caused by lack of sleep. But it's not always that simple.
It can manifest
acutely, such as after a runner completes a marathon, or over time, which we
may know as burnout.
Here are some specific causes of fatigue:
Lack of quality sleep
Sleep disturbances
Interruption of
circadian rhythm
Mental or emotional
stress (such as family problems, anxiety, or check ride stress)
Physical exertion,
such as heavy exercise
Poor health,
including dehydration or poor diet
Specifically, fatigue
in pilots can be caused, or amplified by, the following:
Commuting: some pilots start their day
2-3 hours earlier than others to commute to work. Some have to drive a long
distance to the airport; more often, though, a pilot's commute is because he
doesn't live near his home base at all, and he must fly in from a different
airport, adding hours to the beginning of his day.
Layovers at airports: sometimes pilots
will have a 12-hour layover at an airport, where they are meant to rest.
Instead, some choose not to sleep, or otherwise can't get to sleep. They watch
TV, check email, or catch up with old friends and might get a few hours of
sleep before their next flight departs.
Jet-lag: More apparent with long-haul
pilots, jet-lag can be a big problem when it comes to pilot fatigue. Most
operators give ample time for pilots to adjust to jet lag, but the body does go
through stress when its circadian rhythm is interrupted, making it hard for
pilots to sleep when they need to, and difficult for them to stay awake later
when they need to.
Night flying: Cargo pilots,
especially, deal with fatigue when flying lengthy routes at night due to the
imbalance of the body's natural circadian rhythm. This will be especially true
for those pilots that have varying schedules or alternate day and night shifts.
Monotonous tasks: Pilots that fly the
same aircraft on the same routes into the same airports daily are prone to
boredom fatigue.
Symptoms
Falling asleep
Yawning
Poor visual acuity
Feeling
"sluggish" or "drowsy"
Decreased reaction
time
Decreased
concentration
Effects
Lack of motivation
Poor performance of
tasks
Forgetfulness
Diminished
decision-making skills, including making rash decisions or lack of making a
decision at all
The ultimate risk of
pilot fatigue is an aircraft accident and potential fatalities, such as the
Colgan Air crash that occurred in early 2009.
Nine hours into his
33-hour flight, Charles Lindbergh wrote in his journal that, "... nothing
life can attain, is quite so desirable as sleep."
He goes on to record
the many effects fatigue had on his flight, including falling asleep with his
eyes open and his aircraft getting out of control.
Fatigue is a very
real problem for flight crews.
While the FAA and
aviation operators can help mitigate the risks of pilot fatigue through
education, changes to flight hour limitations and other fatigue management
programs, the ultimate responsibility of fatigue management lie with pilots
themselves.
Sarina Houston
·
Commercial Pilot and Flight Instructor with Single and
Multi-Engine Instrument ratings
·
Worked for Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University as an
administrative director
·
Founding President of a chapter of Women in Aviation, International
·
Member of NAFI (National Association of Flight Instructors)
Experience
Sarina Houston is a
former writer for The Balance Careers covering aviation and aerospace. Houston
is an FAA-certified Commercial Pilot and Flight Instructor with Single and
Multi-Engine Instrument ratings. She has been a flight instructor since 2005.
In addition to
flying, Houston has experience in administrative and nonprofit management. She
has worked for Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University as an administrative
director, and was the founding President of a chapter of Women in Aviation,
International—a nonprofit organization that provides support for women and men
who choose to enter the challenging world of aviation.
She maintains
professional memberships with AOPA (Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association),
WAI (Women in Aviation, International), and NAFI (National Association of
Flight Instructors).
Houston currently
works as an independent flight instructor and a freelance aviation writer.
Education
B.S. in
Aeronautical Science, Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University
M.S. in
Aeronautical Science, ERAU-Worldwide, specializing in Aviation Safety and
Operations
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