Even pilots who spend fewer hours on duty than prescribed by flight time limitations suffer from high levels of fatigue, sleep problems and mental health issues, according to a study by Swiss researchers.1
Although both short-haul and long-haul pilots were affected, the problems were more significant for short-haul pilots, said a report on the study, published in the October issue of Aerospace Medicine and Human Performance.
The report, based on online survey responses from 406 international short-haul and long-haul pilots, concluded, “Pilots’ fatigue should be considered an immediate threat to aviation safety and pilots’ fitness to fly by promoting fatigue and burnout.”
Flight time limitations (FTLs) were first developed to avert fatigue for long-haul pilots, who have been considered susceptible because of disruptions in their circadian rhythms, layovers in different time zones, night flights and “generally long, often monotonou…
