Long flying hours, roster instability among top causes of pilot fatigue, says study
pilot fatigue is mainly attributed to factors such as extended flying hours exceeding 10 hours per day, consecutive night shifts, rapidly changing weekly schedules that disturb circadian rhythms, and schedules that adhere strictly to the minimum required rest periods, reported TOI.
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The survey, published by the Safety Matters Foundation, included responses from 530 airline pilots in India, primarily captains flying domestic and international routes of under six hours. It revealed that around 70 percent of pilots felt that flight duty periods exceeding 10 hours significantly contribute to fatigue. Currently, Indian regulations permit airlines to schedule pilots for up to 13 hours of flight duty within a 24-hour period.
The issue of extended duty hours is further aggravated by frequent «tail swaps,» cited by 63 percent of pilots as a major fatigue factor. In airline terminology, tail swaps involve changing aircraft which requires the crew to disembark, go through the terminal, and complete security screening before boarding a different plane. This process, combined with long flight duties, minimal rest periods, and multiple landings, can exacerbate fatigue, according to the survey and TOI report.
“The survey findings and recommendations were submitted to the DGCA last week,” said Captain Amit Singh of Safety Matters Foundation.
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