CASA media release - Tuesday, 14 June 2005
Fatigue a real risk to aviation
Special strategies to combat fatigue must be adopted by large and small aviation organisations as one way of avoiding accidents caused by human error.
That’s the clear message from the cover story in the latest edition of CASA’s Flight Safety Australia magazine, which looks at recent research on sleep and fatigue.
Fatigue is frequently identified as a contributing factor to aircraft accidents, with pilots particularly at risk.
Pilots can suffer from acute or short-term fatigue caused by intense mental or physical activity over a relatively short period of time, such as flying in difficult instrument conditions.
In addition, they can by hit by chronic fatigue, which results from insufficient or disrupted sleep. This can be caused by the need for shift work.
“Acute and chronic fatigue can interact in the flight environment,” the Flight Safety Australia story says.
“The greatest workload usually occurs at the end of a flight, during the approach and landing phase, when the pilot is also the most tired and consequently has reduced concentration.
“The result can be acute fatigue which can contribute to error.
“If the pilot is also suffering from chronic fatigue due to cumulative sleep debt, judgement and decision making can be impaired, resulting in inadequate responses to threat and error.”
A five step strategy for aviation organisations to manage the risk of fatigue is required.
This strategy identifies fatigue hazards, assesses the level of risk, develops control measures, implements these measures and monitors and reviews their effectiveness.
CASA has also been working with more than 30 general aviation operators since late 2001 testing and refining fatigue risk management systems.
This is an alternative to the limits set on flight and duty times under the Civil Aviation Orders.
Media contact:
Peter Gibson
mobile 0419 296 446
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