Managing the challenge of fatigue for pilots operating ultra-long range flights.

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dc.citation.volume2
dc.contributor.authorSignal TL
dc.contributor.authorvan den Berg MJ
dc.contributor.authorZaslona JL
dc.contributor.authorWu L
dc.contributor.authorHughes M
dc.contributor.authorJohnston B
dc.contributor.authorDyer C
dc.contributor.authorDrane M
dc.contributor.authorGlover M
dc.contributor.editorFischer D
dc.date.accessioned2024-05-21T02:36:52Z
dc.date.available2024-05-21T02:36:52Z
dc.date.issued2024-01-11
dc.description.abstractIntroduction: Ultra-long range (ULR) flights are defined as exceeding regulatory limits: normally 16 h flight time. They pose challenges due to long duty periods that could result in extended wakefulness and sleep loss, increasing the risk of fatigue. This study describes the mitigations used to manage fatigue in these operations. Two data collection phases were conducted on the Auckland-Chicago ULR route: when the route commenced (Study 1) and when the flight crew complement was altered (Study 2). Seasonal differences were also investigated. Methods: Study 1 involved 72 crew who completed diaries and wore an actigraph to record sleep pre-departure, throughout the trip, and on return. In-flight, fatigue, sleepiness and workload were reported, and reaction time performance was measured. Study 2 involved 75 crew and data collection in the northern summer and northern winter. Crew completed diaries throughout the trip. Results: Study 1 data found crew sleep longer than usual in the 24 h pre trip and post flights. On the shorter outbound flight in-flight sleep averaged 3.3 h and on the longer inbound flight, 3.3–3.8 h, with most crew taking 3 breaks. Ratings of sleepiness and fatigue increased, and reaction time performance declined across flights, with greater decrements on longer inbound flights. Pilots did not fully adjust their sleep patterns to local time during the layover and no seasonal differences were found. Comparisons between Study 1 and 2 showed no difference in ratings of fatigue and sleepiness or in-flight sleep duration with an altered crew complement. There was a trend for Captains to report greater workload and less in-flight sleep in Study 2. Discussion: Mitigations that allow for preparation and recovery are well utilized by crew. In-flight sleep is relatively short and ways of increasing the amount of sleep obtained should be considered. The incomplete adaptation of sleep during the layover has implications for rest break strategies on the return flight. The altered crew complement did not result in higher levels of fatigue or sleepiness or less in-flight sleep on average, although findings suggest a need to understand the effects of changing the crew complement on workload and in-flight sleep for Captains.
dc.description.confidentialfalse
dc.identifier.citationSignal TL, van den Berg MJ, Zaslona JL, Wu L, Hughes M, Johnston B, Dyer C, Drane M, Glover M. (2024). Managing the challenge of fatigue for pilots operating ultra-long range flights.. Frontiers in Environmental Health. 2.
dc.identifier.doi10.3389/fenvh.2023.1329203
dc.identifier.eissn2813-558X
dc.identifier.elements-typejournal-article
dc.identifier.number1329203
dc.identifier.urihttps://mro.massey.ac.nz/handle/10179/69627
dc.languageEnglish
dc.publisherFrontiers Media S.A.
dc.publisher.urihttps://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fenvh.2023.1329203/full
dc.relation.isPartOfFrontiers in Environmental Health
dc.rights(c) 2024 The Author/s
dc.rightsCC BY 4.0
dc.rights.urihttps://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
dc.subjectFatigue Risk Management System
dc.subjectfatigue mitigations
dc.subjectin-flight sleep
dc.subjectKarolinska Sleepiness Scale
dc.subjectSamn-Perelli Crew Status Check
dc.subjectPsychomotor Vigilance Task
dc.subjectactigraphic sleep
dc.subjectworkload
dc.titleManaging the challenge of fatigue for pilots operating ultra-long range flights.
dc.typeJournal article
pubs.elements-id486112
pubs.organisational-groupCollege of Health
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