Pilot fatigue

Flight operations often take place at night, which can disrupt the circadian rhythms responsible for monitoring sleep and wake cycles.

The International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) defines fatigue as "A physiological state of reduced mental or physical performance capability resulting from sleep loss or extended wakefulness, circadian phase, or workload."[1] The phenomenon places great risk on the crew and passengers of an airplane because it significantly increases the chance of pilot error.[2] Fatigue is particularly prevalent among pilots because of "unpredictable work hours, long duty periods, circadian disruption, and insufficient sleep".[2] These factors can occur together to produce a combination of sleep deprivation, circadian rhythm effects, and 'time-on task' fatigue.[2] Regulators attempt to mitigate fatigue by limiting the number of hours pilots are allowed to fly over varying periods of time.

  1. ^ "Operation of Aircraft" (PDF). International Standards and Recommended Practices. February 25, 2013.
  2. ^ a b c Caldwell, John; Mallis, Melissa (January 2009). "Fatigue Countermeasures in Aviation". Aviation, Space, and Environmental Medicine. 80 (1): 29–59. doi:10.3357/asem.2435.2009. PMID 19180856.