Flight crew fatigue IV: overnight cargo operations

We monitored 34 B-727 crewmembers before, during, and after 8-d commercial overnight cargo trips crossing no more than one time zone per 24 h. Daytime sleep episodes were 41% shorter and were rated as poorer than nighttime sleep episodes. When the layover was long enough, crewmembers usually slept again in the evening before going back on night duty. Nevertheless, the total sleep per 24 h on duty days averaged 1.2 h less than pretrip. The circadian temperature rhythm did not adapt completely to night duty, delaying by about 3 h. Self-rated fatigue was highest around the time of the temperature minimum, which occurred near the end of the nighttime duty period. On trip days, crewmembers ate more snacks and there was a marked increase in reports of headaches, congested noses, and burning eyes. Comparisons with daytime short-haul operations confirm that a daytime rest period does not represent the same sleep opportunity as a nighttime rest period of the same duration. We examine regulatory and scheduling options, and personal countermeasure strategies, that could help to reduce sleep loss during overnight cargo operations.