Aircrew fatigue in long-haul operations

Area of Science:

• Aviation Physiology
• Human Factors in Aviation
• Sleep and Circadian Rhythms

Background:

• Transmeridian and north-south flight routes pose unique challenges to aircrew.
• Understanding the impact of flight duration and timing on pilot well-being is crucial for aviation safety.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the effects of long-haul flights on pilot fatigue, taskload, stress, and sleep.
• To assess the physiological and psychological demands on pilots across different flight routes and durations.

Main Methods:

• Conducted pre-, in-, and post-flight data collection on 25 flight rotations (50 flights).
• Utilized electroencephalogram (EEG) and electrocardiogram (ECG) measurements.
• Incorporated subjective ratings for sleep, taskload, fatigue, and stress.

Main Results:

• Fatigue levels increased with flight duration, particularly during night flights and long transmeridian routes (e.g., Hamburg-Los Angeles).
• Elevated fatigue was reported on the Frankfurt-Mahe return flight (SEZ-FRA), reaching critical levels for some pilots.
• Taskload perception was low on Atlantic flights but moderate on north-south routes.

Conclusions:

• Current duty schedules on certain long-haul routes may excessively strain pilot mental and physiological capacity.
• Findings support the need for revised flight duty time limitations and rest requirements to enhance aviation safety.
• The study highlights significant legal implications for aircrew scheduling and well-being.