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Fatigue in Short-Haul Pilots Fatigue in Short-Haul Pilots

The importance of The importance of ““discretion time” flyingdiscretion time” flying

Dr. Craig JacksonDr. Craig JacksonSenior Lecturer in PsychologySenior Lecturer in Psychology

BCU BCU

Fatigue is understood in Long-Haul FlightsFatigue is understood in Long-Haul Flights

““One of the worst dangers of pilot fatigue is apathy. The severely One of the worst dangers of pilot fatigue is apathy. The severely fatigued pilot can be indifferent as to the outcome of the flight and fatigued pilot can be indifferent as to the outcome of the flight and their operational performance.” - their operational performance.” - British MidlandBritish Midland

NASA’s “Ames” 10 year programNASA’s “Ames” 10 year program

Fatigued Fatigued Pilots:Pilots:Willing to accept poor performanceWilling to accept poor performance Gradual and cumulative effects Gradual and cumulative effects Fatigued pilots less vigilantFatigued pilots less vigilantShow signs of poor judgmentShow signs of poor judgment

The following do not counteract fatigue….The following do not counteract fatigue….

Skill Skill

Increased effort / strong willIncreased effort / strong will

StaminaStamina

Physical ConditionPhysical Condition

EducationEducation

TrainingTraining

ExperienceExperience

ProfessionalismProfessionalism

MotivationMotivation

CaffeineCaffeine

Medication / PharmaceuticalsMedication / Pharmaceuticals

Arkansas 1999. Arkansas 1999. 11 killed in American Airlines crash11 killed in American Airlines crash

Guam 1997.Guam 1997.228 dead after a Korean Air crash. 228 dead after a Korean Air crash.

New York 1990. New York 1990. 73 killed in Avianca crash73 killed in Avianca crash

Pilot Fatigue MAIN factor in all three Pilot Fatigue MAIN factor in all three crashes - NTSBcrashes - NTSB

MicrosleepMicrosleep

““NNodding off”odding off”

Uncontrolled spontaneous episodes of sleepUncontrolled spontaneous episodes of sleep

Can last seconds or minutesCan last seconds or minutes

Disengages from reality and becomes unresponsiveDisengages from reality and becomes unresponsive

Fail to respond to outside informationFail to respond to outside information

Aircraft cruising at 450 knots on glide path can travel nearly Aircraft cruising at 450 knots on glide path can travel nearly 730 feet during a one-second lapse.730 feet during a one-second lapse.

123 feet

Flight Time LimitationsFlight Time Limitations

FAR 121.471(a) reads:FAR 121.471(a) reads:No certificate holder conducting domestic operations may schedule No certificate holder conducting domestic operations may schedule any flight crewmember and no flight crewmember may accept an any flight crewmember and no flight crewmember may accept an assignment for flight time in scheduled air transportation or in other assignment for flight time in scheduled air transportation or in other commercial flying if that crewmember’s total flight time in all commercial flying if that crewmember’s total flight time in all commercial flying will exceed –commercial flying will exceed –

1,000 hours in any calendar year;1,000 hours in any calendar year;100 hours in any calendar month;100 hours in any calendar month;30 hours in any 7 consecutive days;30 hours in any 7 consecutive days;8 hours between required rest periods.8 hours between required rest periods.

““FTL’s were absolute limits and should not be used as normal FTL’s were absolute limits and should not be used as normal rostering practice, yet low cost airlines push us to limits as standard rostering practice, yet low cost airlines push us to limits as standard practice”practice” – Ryanair Pilot – Ryanair Pilot

FTL’s unrealistic in FTL’s unrealistic in low cost multi-low cost multi-sector operations.sector operations.

DiscretionDiscretion

Time allowed, above Time allowed, above FLT to enable pilots to complete duties if delays FLT to enable pilots to complete duties if delays occur e.g. waiting for fuel, strikes, procedural problemsoccur e.g. waiting for fuel, strikes, procedural problems

FLT over 24hr periodFLT over 24hr period

Flight duty #1 Rest period Flight duty #2

OKOK

Rest periodFlight duty #1 Flight duty #2

Delay extends duty #1 into Rest PeriodDelay extends duty #1 into Rest Period

Study AimsStudy Aims

Quantify the extent of the problem - prevalenceQuantify the extent of the problem - prevalence

Perfect a working methodologyPerfect a working methodology

FindingsFindings

Compare budget pilots with scheduled pilotsCompare budget pilots with scheduled pilots

Relationship between take off / landings and fatigueRelationship between take off / landings and fatigue

The role of “Discretion” in fatigueThe role of “Discretion” in fatigue

Discussion pointsDiscussion points

Fatigue and Length of Service as a Pilot . . . . ?Fatigue and Length of Service as a Pilot . . . . ?

Strong Anecdotal Evidence . . . . ?Strong Anecdotal Evidence . . . . ?

““I had just completed a multi sector operation over 3 days and was I had just completed a multi sector operation over 3 days and was driving home. I was 15 minutes away from home when I felt so driving home. I was 15 minutes away from home when I felt so overwhelmingly tired I had to pull over for a few minutes, when I overwhelmingly tired I had to pull over for a few minutes, when I promptly fell to sleep. It was 8 hours later before I woke up.” promptly fell to sleep. It was 8 hours later before I woke up.”

Captain of an A320Captain of an A320Civil AirlineCivil Airline

Why pick on Short-Haul (Budget) Airlines?Why pick on Short-Haul (Budget) Airlines?

• Fatigue important factor in aviation safetyFatigue important factor in aviation safety• Low cost, multi sector operations grownLow cost, multi sector operations grown• Increase chances of fatigueIncrease chances of fatigue• 21% reported accidents attributed to fatigue21% reported accidents attributed to fatigue

• Research into long-haul was intensiveResearch into long-haul was intensive• Short-Haul largely neglectedShort-Haul largely neglected• Short Haul, multi-sector pilots affected by fatigue Short Haul, multi-sector pilots affected by fatigue

• Last few years, more crews flew into discretion Last few years, more crews flew into discretion • Flight Time Limitations becoming inadequateFlight Time Limitations becoming inadequate• 1993 European working time directive1993 European working time directive

Methodology of StudyMethodology of Study

Discussion GroupsDiscussion Groups

Diary keepingDiary keeping

Questionnaire on PPRUNE websiteQuestionnaire on PPRUNE websiteDemographicsDemographicsOperational detailsOperational detailsOccupational historyOccupational historyFatigue Scale (Chalder et al. 1993 )Fatigue Scale (Chalder et al. 1993 )

Physical fatigue + Psychological fatigue = Total fatigue scorePhysical fatigue + Psychological fatigue = Total fatigue scoreCaseness vs. Non-casenessCaseness vs. Non-caseness

Summary of ResultsSummary of Results

Discussion groups Discussion groups n=45n=45

Diary Keeping Diary Keeping n=20n=20

Questionnaire Questionnaire n=169n=169

158 male (93%) 158 male (93%) 11 female (7%) 11 female (7%)

Mean age 38 years ± 9 (min 21, max 59)Mean age 38 years ± 9 (min 21, max 59)

Data were adjusted for time of completion and world locationData were adjusted for time of completion and world location

Summary of ResultsSummary of Results

76% (n=128) of the sample reported severe fatigue76% (n=128) of the sample reported severe fatigue

50% (n=85) reported they had been asked (by airline) to change their 50% (n=85) reported they had been asked (by airline) to change their “recorded” duty times to fit in with FTLs“recorded” duty times to fit in with FTLs

No difference on any fatigue measures and:No difference on any fatigue measures and:• AgeAge• Sex of pilotsSex of pilots• Aircraft type Aircraft type • Years of serviceYears of service• Number of take-offs-landingsNumber of take-offs-landings

82% reported fatigue levels more significant than 2 years ago82% reported fatigue levels more significant than 2 years ago

80% felt impaired judgement when flying 80% felt impaired judgement when flying

Sectors (take offs & landings)Sectors (take offs & landings)

Risk Factors for Severe FatigueRisk Factors for Severe Fatigue

Relationship Between Fatigue MeasuresRelationship Between Fatigue Measures

Discretion-Time FlyingDiscretion-Time Flying

Testimonials from Interviewed PilotsTestimonials from Interviewed Pilots

“I do not believe I will be alive age 60 at this present rate of overwork.”

“Constant fatigue, tiredness, poor performance, lack of any job satisfaction rules my life.”

“Companies will roster to what they legally can, then expect you to go into discretion to get the job done.”

“FTL’s are unrealistic in low cost operations.”

“I would be in excess of FTL’s but for the ‘massaging’ of our duty start time.”

“Recently I had an incident which was out of character and entirely due to fatigue.”

ConclusionsConclusions

High level of severe fatigue – both quantified & anecdotalHigh level of severe fatigue – both quantified & anecdotal

Fatigue not associated with number of sectorsFatigue not associated with number of sectors

Use of discretion strongly associated with fatigueUse of discretion strongly associated with fatigue

Concerns about fatigue and health Concerns about fatigue and health associated with fatigueassociated with fatigue

Low cost pilots have more and severe fatigueLow cost pilots have more and severe fatigue

Results from other studies concur: Results from other studies concur: (NASA, AIR NZ, France, UK)(NASA, AIR NZ, France, UK)

Moving ForwardMoving Forward

Results both provocative and alarming Results both provocative and alarming

Severe fatigue rampant in short-haul & low Severe fatigue rampant in short-haul & low cost industrycost industry

Can be translated into operationally Can be translated into operationally relevant practicerelevant practice Could save future aviation disastersCould save future aviation disasters

Chronobiology in aircrew schedulingChronobiology in aircrew scheduling

Further large scale, confidential research Further large scale, confidential research Air NZ, AUS, Asia, London University 2001Air NZ, AUS, Asia, London University 2001