Fatigue in Aviation

1
Fatigue in Aviation

• "My mind clicks on and off. I try letting one
  eyelid close at a time while I prop the other
  with my will. But the effect is too much, sleep
  is winning, my whole body argues dully that
  nothing, nothing life can attain is quite so
  desirable as sleep. My mind is losing resolution
  and control." 
•                  Charles Lindbergh about his 1927
  transatlantic flight

2
Fatigue Education Goals

• Ask yourself these questions.
• Is your Operation looking at the role Fatigue may
  play in running the safest operation possible?
• Why should we educate ourselves?
• Why should we regulate ourselves?

3
Why do we need to do this ourselves?

• Raise the Safety Bar for your Organization.
• Raise the Confidence of Regulators
• May be an alternative to regulatory programs.
• Fosters public recognition of a well managed SAFE
  Industry
• Heightened Customer Confidence/Assurance to
  Customers of a Safe Operation
• Institutionalize best practices
• Pride in Achievement.

4
ONE SIZE DOES NOT FIT ALL!

• All Air Carriers do NOT operate in the same or
  even a similar manner. If we become further
  regulated, the rules might fit some but will
  cause confusion and organizational difficulty in
  others.
• We are unique operations unlike Passenger 135/121
  operations.
• Our operations may actually result in lower
  levels of daily flying and significant
  opportunities for rest IF we monitor and manage
  ourselves.
• Taking a wait and see attitude may only result
  in increased regulation which will have the
  impact of imposing restrictions upon our ability
  to serve our customers in a cost effective
  manner. This in turn could have dramatic
  economic implications to everyone involved the
  company, the customer, the pilot himself!
• The role we play in educating our pilot group is
  crucial.
• We instruct our pilots on the affects that Drugs
  and Alcohol have in their performance. It is time
  to add to our Safety process by alerting them to
  the dangers of flying without adequate rest.
• With around-the-clock activities, our 24/7
  society can keep us from allocating enough time
  for sleep or put us on irregular schedules.
  Feeling sleepy is a common experience,
  particularly for millions of Americans working
  non-traditional shifts. The body never adjusts
  to shift work! Working nontraditional schedules
  is a risk for on-the-job accidents. It is often
  difficult to get quality sleep during the day and
  support from others is important but often
  difficult.
• Managing fatigue in crewmembers is a shared
  responsibility.

5
Things to Know!

• Causes of Fatigue and Risk Factors
• Symptoms of Fatigue
• What can you do as an Operator/Employer?
• Information for Your Pilots.

6
CAUSES OF FATIGUE

• Lack of sleep
• Stress
• Anxiety
• Poor health
• Disruption in Circadian Rhythm
• (Circadian Rhythm is an issue even if a person
  has been off for a period of time and allowed
  to rest.)
• NOTE These could also be symptoms of hypoxia or
  dehydration.
• definition of circadian rhythm internal clock
  in our brain that tells us we should be awake and
  working when it is light out and sleeping when it
  is dark out (or on the golf course when it is
  light out and dreaming about being on the golf
  course when it is dark out!)

7
Risk Factors

• Extended work and/or extended commuting schedule.
  
• Split shift work schedules.
• Sleep/Work periods conflicting with the circadian
  rhythm.
• Changing or rotating work schedules.
• Unpredictable work schedules.
• Lack of rest or nap periods during work.
• Sleep disruption.
• Inadequate exercise opportunities.
• Poor Diet.
• Environmental stressors.

8
Symptoms of Fatigue

• Increased reaction time
• Indifference to performance (decreased
  situational awareness)
• Decreased ability to concentrate on tasks
• Fixation
• Short term memory loss
• Impaired decision making or judgment skills
• Distractibility
• Sloppy skills
• Reduced visual perception
• Loss of initiative

9
AS AN OPERATOR OR AS A PILOT

• DO NOT PLACE YOUR OWN AGENDA AHEAD OF SAFETY!

STUDIES HAVE SHOWN THAT FATIGUE IS A FACTOR IN AT
LEAST 4-8 OF AVIATION ACCIDENTS. THE MAJORITY
OF THESE INCIDENTS UNDER PART 135 WERE SHOWN TO
HAVE OCCURRED WHEN THE PILOT IN COMMAND HAD BEEN
ON DUTY LESS THAN 14 HOURS. IT IS
IMPERATIVE FOR BOTH OPERATORS AND EMPLOYEES
(PILOTS AND DISPATCHERS/FLIGHT FOLLOWERS) TO
RECOGNIZE THE ROLE FATIGUE MAY PLAY IN ACCIDENTS
AND INCIDENTS AND RECOGNIZE THE SYMPTOMS IN TIME
TO PREVENT THAT ACCIDENT.
10
What you should do

• As the employer/manager of the flight crew member
  that may be assigned duty during evening,
  night-time or early morning (non-traditional
  times), do as much as you can to minimize the
  risk
• Give your crewmember adequate time to rest free
  from restriction interruption or even the
  possibility of interruption.
• Dont constantly change the shift assignment.
  Changes in work and rest schedules that do not
  have a fixed pattern result in fatigue management
  challenges that are extremely difficult to
  address.
• Remember its not just how much time they have
  had off, it is how/where their duty time falls
  into their circadian rhythm.
• Dont use the shifting of regulations to
  get-around rest requirements. Remember Fatigue
  is Fatigue whether you are flying Part 91, 135,
  or 121.
• Be prepared for contingencies when weather,
  traffic, late freight or mechanical problems
  result in delays.

11
And more.

• Educate your crewmembers on fatigue and the
  effects on a recurrent, not one-time basis.
• Encourage your crewmembers to live a healthy
  lifestyle.
• Promote an atmosphere where crewmembers feel free
  to come to management with issues that may be
  affecting their sleep.
• If you provide crew quarters, be aware of
  environmental factors such as light, noise,
  temperature and humidity.

12
As a Pilottake care of YOU!

• As a flight crew member on duty during evening,
  night-time or early morning hours, follow as many
  of these suggestions as possible
• Avoid caffeine (coffee, tea, soft drinks,
  chocolate) and nicotine (cigarettes, tobacco
  products) close to bedtime, which can delay the
  onset of sleep.
• Avoid alcohol as it can lead to disrupted sleep
  and also delay the onset of sleep.
• What we eat can be a determining factor in sleep
  quality and duration.
• Examples heavy or spicy food that can cause
  indigestion.
• Exercise regularly, but complete your workout at
  least 3 hours before bedtime.
• Establish a regular relaxing, bedtime routine
  (e.g. taking a bath or relaxing in a hot-tub).
• Create a sleep-conducive environment that is
  dark, quiet and preferably cool and comfortable.
• If you are in a hotel room, pay attention to the
  potential for noise sources as you check in and
  request a different room if you are in an area of
  noise sources.

13
ITS IMPORTANT

• RECOGNIZE!
• EDUCATE!
• SUPPORT!

14
Thanks for the info

• REFERENCES
•    US DOT Commercial Transportation Operator
  Fatigue Management Reference issued July 2003
•    US DOT SAFO 06004 dated 4-28-06 Approach and
  Landing Accident Reduction Sterile Cockpit,
  Fatigue
•    Fatigue in Aviation by John A Caldwell from
  the Aviation Sustained Operations Team, Fatigue
  Countermeasures Branch, Air Force Research
  Laboratory dated July 2004    
• Flight Safety Foundation Principles and
  Guidelines for Duty and Rest.
• NASA Crew Factors in Flight Operation XI A
  Survey of Fatigue Factors in Regional Airline
  Operations. Oct 1999
• 11 Proven Sleep Tips to Help You Rest Well In Any
  Strange or Noisy Hotel by Pilot Paul.