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Fatigue in Short-Haul Pilots The importance of “discretion time” flying Dr. Craig Jackson Senior Lecturer in Psychology BCU BCU

Fatigue is understood in Long-Haul Flights “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 their operational performance.” - British Midland NASA’s “Ames” 10 year program Fatigued Pilots: Willing to accept poor performance Gradual and cumulative effects Fatigued pilots less vigilant Show signs of poor judgment

The following do not counteract fatigue…. Skill Skill Increased effort / strong will Increased effort / strong will Stamina Stamina Physical Condition Physical Condition Education Education Training Training Experience Experience Professionalism Professionalism Motivation Motivation Caffeine Caffeine Medication / Pharmaceuticals Medication / Pharmaceuticals Arkansas killed in American Airlines crash Guam dead after a Korean Air crash. New York killed in Avianca crash Pilot Fatigue MAIN factor in all three crashes - NTSB

Microsleep “Nodding off” Uncontrolled spontaneous episodes of sleep Can last seconds or minutes Disengages from reality and becomes unresponsive Fail to respond to outside information Aircraft cruising at 450 knots on glide path can travel nearly 730 feet during a one-second lapse. 123 feet

Flight Time Limitations FAR (a) reads: No certificate holder conducting domestic operations may schedule any flight crewmember and no flight crewmember may accept an assignment for flight time in scheduled air transportation or in other commercial flying if that crewmember’s total flight time in all commercial flying will exceed – 1,000 hours in any calendar year; 100 hours in any calendar month; 30 hours in any 7 consecutive days; 8 hours between required rest periods. “FTL’s were absolute limits and should not be used as normal rostering practice, yet low cost airlines push us to limits as standard practice” – Ryanair Pilot FTL’s unrealistic in low cost multi- sector operations.

Discretion Time allowed, above FLT to enable pilots to complete duties if delays occur e.g. waiting for fuel, strikes, procedural problems FLT over 24hr period Flight duty #1Rest period Flight duty #2 OK Rest periodFlight duty #1 Flight duty #2 Delay extends duty #1 into Rest Period

Study Aims Quantify the extent of the problem - prevalence Perfect a working methodology Findings Compare budget pilots with scheduled pilots Relationship between take off / landings and fatigue The role of “Discretion” in fatigue Discussion points

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

Strong Anecdotal Evidence.... ? “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 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.” Captain of an A320 Civil Airline

Why pick on Short-Haul (Budget) Airlines? Fatigue important factor in aviation safety Fatigue important factor in aviation safety Low cost, multi sector operations grown Low cost, multi sector operations grown Increase chances of fatigue Increase chances of fatigue 21% reported accidents attributed to fatigue 21% reported accidents attributed to fatigue Research into long-haul was intensive Research into long-haul was intensive Short-Haul largely neglected Short-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 inadequate Flight Time Limitations becoming inadequate 1993 European working time directive 1993 European working time directive

Methodology of Study Discussion Groups Diary keeping Questionnaire on PPRUNE website Demographics Operational details Occupational history Fatigue Scale (Chalder et al ) Physical fatigue + Psychological fatigue = Total fatigue score Caseness vs. Non-caseness

Summary of Results Discussion groups n=45 Diary Keeping n=20 Questionnaire n= male (93%) 11 female (7%) 11 female (7%) Mean age 38 years ± 9 (min 21, max 59) Data were adjusted for time of completion and world location

Summary of Results 76% (n=128) of the sample reported severe fatigue 50% (n=85) reported they had been asked (by airline) to change their “recorded” duty times to fit in with FTLs No difference on any fatigue measures and: Age Age Sex of pilots Sex of pilots Aircraft type Aircraft type Years of service Years of service Number of take-offs-landings Number of take-offs-landings 82% reported fatigue levels more significant than 2 years ago 80% felt impaired judgement when flying

Sectors (take offs & landings)

Risk Factors for Severe Fatigue

Relationship Between Fatigue Measures

Discretion-Time Flying

Testimonials 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.”

Conclusions High level of severe fatigue – both quantified & anecdotal Fatigue not associated with number of sectors Use of discretion strongly associated with fatigue Concerns about fatigue and health associated with fatigue Low cost pilots have more and severe fatigue Results from other studies concur: (NASA, AIR NZ, France, UK)

Moving Forward Results both provocative and alarming Severe fatigue rampant in short-haul & low cost industry Can be translated into operationally relevant practice Could save future aviation disasters Chronobiology in aircrew scheduling Further large scale, confidential research Air NZ, AUS, Asia, London University 2001