Health, sleep, and mood perceptions reported by airline crews flying short and long hauls

The present study is part of a major questionnaire survey of work environment and health of air crew in the Scandinavian Airline System (SAS) Norway in 1989. The 1240 respondents (response rate 83%) answered 250 questions about health, job-strain, well-being, sleep problems, organization, and communication. The study charts self-reported incidences of health problems focusing on differences between cockpit and cabin crews. The study also evaluates possible effects of transmeridian and short distance flying on health, taking into account gender, job demands, working conditions of the respondents, and aircraft design. Common problems, reported by more than 30%, are dry skin, lower back pain, colds, fatigue, and sleep disturbances. Pilots report least, while female cabin attendants register most problems. Crews flying long distance transmeridian routes report more health problems than short distance personnel. Among pilots, irritability, fatigue, sleep disturbances, and low back pain are the most frequently reported problems. Cabin attendants more often complain of skin and eye disorders, digestive disturbances, and musculoskeletal pains. The study supports earlier findings that transmeridian air travel causes digestive disturbances, fatigue, and sleep disturbances in both cockpit and cabin crews of both genders. Among female cabin attendants, there is a nonsignificant tendency of more menstrual disorders among those flying long hauls.