1. Fit to Fly ? Ries Simons & Pierre Valk
Netherlands Organization for Applied Scientific Research
Advisory Board ESAM

2. TNO Aircrew Fitness Program stimulating safety & performance of aircrew since 1986
Sleep – Alertness
FTL
Lifestyle
FCL
Medication - Drugs
FCL

3. TNO Aircrew Alertness Program
Sleep Surveys
Flight Time Limitations
Bunk Sleep and Augmented Crew
Early Starts and Irregular Rosters
“Cockpit Nap”
ECASS (ULR OPS, “Moebus” Report)
Effects of Medication / Alcohol
Fit to Fly Tool

4. Impaired Fitness ≈ Fatigue in the context of Flight OPS
A state of reduced mental or physical performance capability
that can impair a crew member’s alertness and ability
to safely operate an aircraft or perform safety related duties

5. Impaired Fitness ≈ Fatigue
Time on Task
Time since awake
Pre-Duty Sleep
Phase of Circadian Cycle
Work load / Monotony
Medication, hangover
Cabin environmental conditions
Life style
Health / Psychological Factors

6. evaluate risks and take action
Fit to Fly Programme
Predict fitness-related safety risks and indicate which factors can be improved to reduce the risk:
evaluate risks and take action
Provide a method to evaluate rosters / requirements
Stimulate awareness of fitness-related aspects of safe functioning

7. Fit-to-Fly Tool - Aim Evaluation of rosters and route schedules
Evaluation of alertness-related safety of operations
Stimulate awareness of effects of fatigue, sleep, life style
on performance and health
On which points can I improve ?
On which points can the management improve ?

8. Lifestyle-Ailments-Medication-Alcohol
In-flight Crew Alertness Model
Lifestyle-Ailments-Medication-Alcohol

9. Fit-to-Fly Tool - Design
In analogy with CFIT Checklist (FSF):
risk factors
risk multiplying factors
risk reducing factors
Model based on data of
TNO Aircrew Fitness Program

10. Field Studies: 380 pilots Actiwatch Vigilance and Tracking Task
Questionnaires/rating scales
Samn-Perelli 7 pt
SSS
KSS – 9 pt
GSQS

11. Fatigue & Alertness during FDP
Fatigue SP
Reaction Time

12. Pre-duty sleep and in-flight performance
Top of Descent **
**: p<0.001 **
Pre-flight Sleep Duration

13. Short Haul Early reporting: Vigilance at TOD
Top of Descent **
* : p<0.05
**: p<0.001 *

14. Long Haul Flights: Vigilance

15. Crew augmentation and In-flight Sleep
Extension of flying duty period by in-flight relief.
Report TNO-DV 2007 C362 (Simons & Spencer)

16. Alcohol: acute and post-alcohol effects on Vigilance
BAC 0.07%
(delta)
BAC 0.00%

18. Fit-to-Fly Tool - Method
Categories of risk factors / risk reducing factors:
pre-flight sleep
pre-flight fitness
history of recent duty
actual flight operation
- numerical values are assigned to each item
of each category  score for each category  Risk Index

19. Fit-to-Fly Tool Pre-flight Sleep Pre-flight Fitness Recent Work load
- Quality, duration, efficiency
Pre-flight Fitness
- Sleepiness, medication, alcohol
Recent Work load
- Early reporting, late arrival, jet lag, excessive workload
Actual Flight Operation
- Early reporting, night flight, onboard rest opportunities

20. FTF Tool Evaluation in Long + Short Haul OPS:
Long haul rotations
77 pilots from AMS to:
BKK - 6 day ops / shuttle flight TPE
JNB - 6 day ops / shuttle flight CPT
NRT - 3 day ops (1 local night)
MEX - 5 day ops
Short Haul rotations
45 pilots
36 different destinations
5 - 6 day duty periods

21. Pre-flight sleep Risk Factors
difficulty falling asleep
tossing and turning
frequent awakenings
poor sleep quality
tired after waking up
TST 0-4 hours
TST 4-6 hours
TST 6-7 hours

22. Pre-flight sleep Risk Reducing Factors
TST >7 hours
sleep in circadian sleep phase
sleep quality: good
sleep quality: very good
pre-flight nap: 1-2 hours
pre-flight nap: >2 hours

23. Pre-flight Fitness Risk Factors
sedative medication last night
headache, common cold
hay fever
2-4 alcoholic drinks last night
>4 alcoholic drinks last night
actual status: tired
actual status: foggy
actual status: sleepy

24. Pre-flight Fitness Risk Reducing Factors
no sedative medication last night
<1 alcoholic drink last night
actual status: fit
actual status: very fit

25. Operational Factors: History of recent duty
Risk Factors
short haul: start <6 a.m. within last 36 hrs
short haul: start 6-8 hrs within last 36 hrs
short haul: arrival after midnight within last 36 hrs
>5 time zones crossed within last 36 hrs
>5 time zones crossed within last 48 hrs
long haul: all night flying in last 2 days
excessive workload during last 2 days

26. Operational Factors: actual flight
Risk Multiplying Factors
short haul: start <6 a.m.
short haul: start between a.m.
short haul: arrival after midnight
short haul: arrival between p.m.
long haul: all night flying
inadequate opportunities for break(s)

27. Operational Factors: actual flight
Risk Reducing Factors
day-light flight
adequate rest between 2 sectors
augmented crew
opportunities for in-flight rest in cockpit seat
opportunities for in-flight rest in business seat
opportunities for in-flight rest in bunk
duration in-flight rest hour
duration in-flight rest 1-2 hours
duration in-flight rest >2 hours
in-flight rest in circadian sleep phase

33. Fit-to-Fly tool: part of FRMS ? monitoring
education
Fit-to-Fly tool: part of FRMS ?
monitoring
evaluation

34. Stimulate healthy life style using Fit-to-Fly tool

35. Thanks for your attention