China
Africa
Explore chapters and articles related to this topic
Adaptive Automation for Mitigation of Hazardous States of Awareness
Published in Gerald Matthews, Paula A. Desmond, Catherine Neubauer, P.A. Hancock, The Handbook of Operator Fatigue, 2017
Chad L. Stephens, Mark W. Scerbo, Alan T. Pope
The focus of this volume, fatigue, represents one of these HSAs that is clearly associated with degraded performance. The problem of fatigue in complex operational settings, such as aviation (Caldwell, Chapter 24, this volume), has high face validity, that is to say the general public, general aviation and commercial pilots, and human factors researchers understand that a fatigued state interferes with performance. Pilot fatigue has been identified as a major contributing factor to aviation accidents (United States Government, House of Representatives, 1999). A report from the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) indicated that 21 percent of the reports in the Aviation Safety Reporting System (ASRS; see Reynard et al., 1986) were related to fatigue (NTSB, 1999). This issue has been on the NTSB “Most Wanted” list since its creation in September 1990; making fatigue one of the four problems that have remained since the original list of 18 problems was published.
Introduction
Published in John A. Caldwell, J. Lynn Caldwell, Fatigue in Aviation, 2016
John A. Caldwell, J. Lynn Caldwell
Pilot fatigue is an insidious threat throughout aviation, but especially in operations involving sleep loss from circadian disruptions, increased sleep pressure from extended duty, and impaired alertness associated with night work (Akerstedt, 1995a). Aviator fatigue is associated with degradations in response accuracy and speed, the unconscious acceptance of lower standards of performance, impairments in the capacity to integrate information, and narrowing of attention that can lead to forgetting or ignoring important aspects of flight tasks (Perry, 1974). Fatigued pilots tend to decrease their physical activity, withdraw from social interactions, and lose the ability to effectively divide mental resources among different tasks. As sleepiness levels increase, performance becomes less consistent and vigilance deteriorates (Dinges, 1990). Even the most basic types of psychomotor performance are degraded by sleepiness/fatigue. Thus, it is clear that fatigue is a threat to flight safety; however, it has been difficult to establish the full and exact cost of fatigue in terms of incidents and accidents.
Fatigue and Aviation
Published in Carrie H. Kennedy, Gary G. Kay, Aeromedical Psychology, 2013
J. Lynn Caldwell, John A. Caldwell
Pilot fatigue is often cited as a major contributor to severe aviation mishaps. In the US Navy and Marine Corps for example, fatigue was identified as the leading cause of Class A mishaps (that is, damage exceeds one million dollars and involves fatality or permanent disability or destroyed aircraft) among those mishaps which were attributable to aeromedical factors between 2000 and 2006 (Davenport 2009). Aviator fatigue has been blamed at least in part for such incidents and accidents as the 2009 crash of a Continental Connection flight in which 50 people were killed (National Transportation Safety Board 2010), the 2004 crash of Corporate Airlines flight 5966 in which 13 people perished (National Transportation Safety Board 2006), the 1997 crash of Korean Air flight 801 in which 228 people died (National Transportation Safety Board 1999), the 1985 near crash of China Airlines flight 006 in which 24 people were injured (National Transportation Safety Board 1986), and the 1999 mishap involving American Airlines Flight 1420 in which 11 people were killed (National Transportation Safety Board 2001). For a play-by-play look at fatigue and an aircraft mishap, please see Wesensten and Balkin (2010) who outline the role of sleep loss and consequent cognitive dysfunction in the 1993 crash of American International Airways Flight 808, which resulted in serious injuries to all three crewmembers.
A Systematic Review of Stimulant Use in Civilian and Military Aviation
Published in The International Journal of Aerospace Psychology, 2021
Alex M. Ehlert, Patrick B. Wilson
The modern aviation environment can result in pilot fatigue due to sleep deprivation, circadian disruption, high workloads, and unexpected schedule changes. The results of this review suggest that in-flight stimulants have been frequently used in civilian and military aviation over the past 25 years, but their use has depended on the specific operation and the individual. In military combat operations, in-flight stimulants tended to be used more often when flights were airborne during the circadian trough, were long in duration, time for rest was relatively short, and when other countermeasures (e.g., napping) could not be utilized. Reported side effects were relatively uncommon and typically minor-to-moderate in severity, which may be a result of the strict regulation of prescription stimulants (dextroamphetamine and modafinil) during flight operations. However, there were a couple of instances of severe effects, and even the minor-moderate effects (e.g., sleep disruption) are worthy of consideration when planning a fatigue management protocol. Overall, an individualized approach is needed based on specific operational demands, time for recovery, ability to utilize primary countermeasures, and how an individual responds to a given stimulant. Given that many of the studies identified by this review were done more than 10 years ago, there remains a need to conduct further research on the use of stimulants in both civilian and military contexts.
Integrated Modeling of Fatigue Impacts on C-17 Approach and Landing Performance
Published in The International Journal of Aerospace Psychology, 2023
Bella Z. Veksler, Megan B. Morris, Michael A. Krusmark, Glenn Gunzelmann
Pilot fatigue is a critical issue in aviation communities, leading to mishaps that can be costly in terms of resources and life (Caldwell, 2005; Gaines et al., 2020). Fatigue is often caused by circadian phase desynchrony, sleep deprivation, and mental or physical workload, and results in outcomes such as reduced alertness and increased sleepiness, errors of omission, risk-taking behavior, and anxiety (Caldwell, 2005; Miller & Melfi, 2006). Cumulative fatigue can also have negative health effects (Craig & Cooper, 1992) and can lead to burnout (Tvaryanas et al., 2008). As a result, fatigue risk management (FRM) programs are necessary to maintain optimal performance and reduce risk to pilot health and overall organization functioning.
Developing a fatigue questionnaire for Chinese civil aviation pilots
Published in International Journal of Occupational Safety and Ergonomics, 2020
Jing Dai, Min Luo, Wendong Hu, Jin Ma, Zhihong Wen
Pilot fatigue has been considered a contributing factor in various aviation incidents and accidents. Fatigue in aviation is widely acknowledged as a major risk for safety and has been on the most wanted list of the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) since 1990. Fatigue is defined as a feeling of weariness, tiredness or lack of energy. It can be a normal and important response to physical activity, emotional stress, boredom or lack of sleep. Fatigue is a common symptom, usually not due to a serious disease, but it may result in a decreased ability to maintain function or carry a workload [1]. The International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) defined crewmember fatigue as:a physiological state of reduced mental or physical performance capability resulting from sleep loss or extended wakefulness, circadian phase, or workload (mental and/or physical activity) that can impair a crewmember's alertness and ability to safely operate an aircraft or perform safety related duties. [2, p.1]Flight safety is a very important issue in air transport. Pilots are prone to experience physical and mental fatigue due to cabin noise, vibration, pressure changes, long flight durations and irregular working times, while fatigue can seriously affect pilots’ flight operations [3]. There are various factors which affect flight safety, e.g., pilot behavior, aircraft design, maintenance quality, terminal management, meteorology and flight control. Fatigue effects such as response slowing, failures in attention or failure to suppress inappropriate strategies have been identified in many high-profile accidents [4]. With regard to the aviation industry, about 21% of flight accidents related to pilots’ fatigue, reported by both pilots and controllers in the Aviation Safety Reporting System (ASRS), according to the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) report [5]. There is also evidence that fatigue is involved in at least 4–8% of aviation accidents [6].