38%
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38%
...and rising?
Number of pilots for Hong Kong's Cathay Pacific reporting flying with fatigue up 38pc | South China Morning Post
Figures obtained by the Sunday Morning Post show a sharp rise last year in the number of Cathay Pacific pilots reporting to the airline they were suffering from fatigue while flying.
Almost 1,100 reports of fatigue were received by the company last year - up 38 per cent compared to 2013. Nearly 3,500 cases have been submitted since monitoring started four years ago, according to the airline's sustainable development report.
Cathay Pacific attributed the increase to pilots being more aware of fatigue symptoms, while the company has made it easier for aircrew to submit reports about exhaustion.
The airline insisted safety was its top priority after the Post revealed pilots' concerns over aviation safety three weeks ago, increasing pressure on the airline to reform its cockpit culture.
A letter signed by 100 check and training captains warned company bosses that flight safety was under threat as exhausted aircrews coped with escalating workloads. The airline's management later conceded there had been an "increased workload" and "decrease in rostering stability" among its pilots, leading to exhaustion among aircrew.
Fatigue accounted for less than a tenth of all safety reports, said Cathay. But it said fatigue was being highlighted to "proactively address any issues identified and prevent recurrence".
"A good airline will have a healthy reporting culture that permits this proactive approach to safety management," a spokeswoman said. "Many airlines do not attract safety reports and are not in a position to address the issues highlighted.
"The rise in the number of ASR-Fs [air safety report-fatigue] is partly due to healthy reporting that is actively encouraged."
A meeting was held last Tuesday between the Civil Aviation Department and the Airline Pilots Association which focused on air accident investigations. The Post understands "concern" was expressed by the regulator about the captains' letter on fatigue, according to people present at the meeting. The letter cited "increased sickness rates" from greater workloads. The airline declined to talk about pilot sickness rates.
A Cathay pilot, who did not want to be named, said: "I have previously had time off for fatigue and feel [when I return to work] that often I am almost down at the same level of functioning even with my best efforts to continually address the issue."
Symptoms, he said, included "no energy to do anything, even eat, not sleeping day or night, mood changes, loss of memory and disorientation to the point of waking up on a bus in uniform and not knowing if I am going to or coming home from work".
Cathay Pacific and sister airline Dragonair are among just a few major airlines that incorporate fatigue into aviation safety risk management with a fatigue risk management committee.
A working group set up by the committee with management and pilots to look at the issue is set to report back in November.
Darryl Soligo, the president of the Airline Pilots Association, said a rise in reporting of fatigue may be down to better awareness and confidence in the reporting system among flight crew.
"It is only by the collection of such data that the [fatigue risk management committee] may actually function in order to identify and mitigate perceived fatigue risks," he said.
The Civil Aviation Department said it actively supported airlines promoting a safe "reporting culture … to enable safety information to be fed into a system for structured analysis and continuous improvement".
Chris Beebe, general secretary of the Aircrew Officers Association, which represents around 2,100 Cathay pilots, said: "Certainly pilots' rosters have become more demanding … and it's an indicator that pilots are dealing with a greater amount of fatigue. We think Cathay has to take a very hard look at all of the elements that go into the fatigue aspect of the flight operation."
Number of pilots for Hong Kong's Cathay Pacific reporting flying with fatigue up 38pc | South China Morning Post
Figures obtained by the Sunday Morning Post show a sharp rise last year in the number of Cathay Pacific pilots reporting to the airline they were suffering from fatigue while flying.
Almost 1,100 reports of fatigue were received by the company last year - up 38 per cent compared to 2013. Nearly 3,500 cases have been submitted since monitoring started four years ago, according to the airline's sustainable development report.
Cathay Pacific attributed the increase to pilots being more aware of fatigue symptoms, while the company has made it easier for aircrew to submit reports about exhaustion.
The airline insisted safety was its top priority after the Post revealed pilots' concerns over aviation safety three weeks ago, increasing pressure on the airline to reform its cockpit culture.
A letter signed by 100 check and training captains warned company bosses that flight safety was under threat as exhausted aircrews coped with escalating workloads. The airline's management later conceded there had been an "increased workload" and "decrease in rostering stability" among its pilots, leading to exhaustion among aircrew.
Fatigue accounted for less than a tenth of all safety reports, said Cathay. But it said fatigue was being highlighted to "proactively address any issues identified and prevent recurrence".
"A good airline will have a healthy reporting culture that permits this proactive approach to safety management," a spokeswoman said. "Many airlines do not attract safety reports and are not in a position to address the issues highlighted.
"The rise in the number of ASR-Fs [air safety report-fatigue] is partly due to healthy reporting that is actively encouraged."
A meeting was held last Tuesday between the Civil Aviation Department and the Airline Pilots Association which focused on air accident investigations. The Post understands "concern" was expressed by the regulator about the captains' letter on fatigue, according to people present at the meeting. The letter cited "increased sickness rates" from greater workloads. The airline declined to talk about pilot sickness rates.
A Cathay pilot, who did not want to be named, said: "I have previously had time off for fatigue and feel [when I return to work] that often I am almost down at the same level of functioning even with my best efforts to continually address the issue."
Symptoms, he said, included "no energy to do anything, even eat, not sleeping day or night, mood changes, loss of memory and disorientation to the point of waking up on a bus in uniform and not knowing if I am going to or coming home from work".
Cathay Pacific and sister airline Dragonair are among just a few major airlines that incorporate fatigue into aviation safety risk management with a fatigue risk management committee.
A working group set up by the committee with management and pilots to look at the issue is set to report back in November.
Darryl Soligo, the president of the Airline Pilots Association, said a rise in reporting of fatigue may be down to better awareness and confidence in the reporting system among flight crew.
"It is only by the collection of such data that the [fatigue risk management committee] may actually function in order to identify and mitigate perceived fatigue risks," he said.
The Civil Aviation Department said it actively supported airlines promoting a safe "reporting culture … to enable safety information to be fed into a system for structured analysis and continuous improvement".
Chris Beebe, general secretary of the Aircrew Officers Association, which represents around 2,100 Cathay pilots, said: "Certainly pilots' rosters have become more demanding … and it's an indicator that pilots are dealing with a greater amount of fatigue. We think Cathay has to take a very hard look at all of the elements that go into the fatigue aspect of the flight operation."
Last edited by alohajec; 11th Oct 2015 at 14:20. Reason: SCMP article content added.
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Cathay Pacific attributed the increase to pilots being more aware of fatigue symptoms, while the company has made it easier for aircrew to submit reports about exhaustion.
Guess its noting to do with more rubbish trips or lack of crew, all night duties followed by morning starts for the next one. We are just better at telling when we are tired compared to last year.
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Sleep studies have shown that the more fatigued one becomes, the more difficult their judgement becomes to determine they are fatigued. But yes, I am sure CX are correct that we are more aware.
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Billy
Absolutely, but studies also suggest that 50% are down to self management of rest
Are their Union Reps at the Airline Fatigue committee?
Sleep studies have shown that the more fatigued one becomes, the more difficult their judgement becomes to determine they are fatigued. But yes, I am sure CX are correct that we are more aware.
Are their Union Reps at the Airline Fatigue committee?
Difficult to spin your way out of this. The press have got hold of it and the CAD will begin to feel the pressure too. To say there are more ASR-F's because of Cathay's modern and open culture (sic) is ridiculous. There are more ASR-F's because the rosters are terrible, unstable and - somehow - "legal".
Come on CAD! Get off the fence and do your bloody job!!!!
Come on CAD! Get off the fence and do your bloody job!!!!
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1,100 fatigue reports.
Making up less than 10 percent of safety reports.
That's over 11,000 safety reports in a 12 month period.
Over 30 a day!!
Meanwhile, the bean counters contine to remove slices of Swiss cheese.
Won't be long now....
Making up less than 10 percent of safety reports.
That's over 11,000 safety reports in a 12 month period.
Over 30 a day!!
Meanwhile, the bean counters contine to remove slices of Swiss cheese.
Won't be long now....
Fatigue and a photo of the 340..unintended subtlety I suspect.
She doesn't want feedback because she already has all the facts on her desk.
I say it again, the only thing that will elicit change is 300 body bags...and that is the sad truth which she will have to defend in court, although I bet she is praying to the Lord on a daily basis that she is gone before the smoking hole.
None of us signed up for single fatigued pilot IFR but that is where we are heading
She doesn't want feedback because she already has all the facts on her desk.
I say it again, the only thing that will elicit change is 300 body bags...and that is the sad truth which she will have to defend in court, although I bet she is praying to the Lord on a daily basis that she is gone before the smoking hole.
None of us signed up for single fatigued pilot IFR but that is where we are heading
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Just say NO
It is clear to anyone who has worked the roster that the company no longer rosters safely. There are flights we simply can't operate safely due to fatigue. It is up to us to be professional and manage safety. The roster will change if enough of us refuse the duties that are too fatiguing. They can roster whatever they like - I wont fly when I can't complete the duty safely - without planning to use controlled rest or drugs.
In the last 6 months I have refused 8 duties due fatigue. I told CC that I am happy to work, but I can not safely complete the rostered duty. ASR-F filed. It is not hard to do. I haven't had any issues with push back.
Why risk your life, your career, your passengers, your health for the monkeys who are running this mess? Just say NO.
In the last 6 months I have refused 8 duties due fatigue. I told CC that I am happy to work, but I can not safely complete the rostered duty. ASR-F filed. It is not hard to do. I haven't had any issues with push back.
Why risk your life, your career, your passengers, your health for the monkeys who are running this mess? Just say NO.
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I seem to remember someone getting reprimanded for calling in fatigue-unfit (leave/pay taken away?), because a flight got changed from a local one to long-haul, and he/she wasn't rested for that.
I love how we are supposed to be rested for basically anything they can throw at us, and then change a split duty to continuous duty from 9 pm to 6 am, or short haul to long haul.
There are certain changes that you can't prepare for rest-wise. It's downright irresponsible of the airline to reprimand a pilot for calling unfit to keep the flight/passengers safe, just because it is 'legal'.
I love how we are supposed to be rested for basically anything they can throw at us, and then change a split duty to continuous duty from 9 pm to 6 am, or short haul to long haul.
There are certain changes that you can't prepare for rest-wise. It's downright irresponsible of the airline to reprimand a pilot for calling unfit to keep the flight/passengers safe, just because it is 'legal'.
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It's downright irresponsible of the airline to reprimand a pilot for calling unfit to keep the flight/passengers safe, just because it is 'legal'.
How's that for "irresponsible"
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Went sick, up all night vomiting, gave 12 hrs notice which was the best I could do under the circumstances. Called CC at around 5am for a 5:30 pm sign on.
Resulting fallout was not pretty.
Resulting fallout was not pretty.
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Got called in to the office once to explain a last minute sick call. I asked "if the company was expecting me to fly unfit even though the illness onset was last minute" and "if so, can I have that in writing". That was the end of the interview. 
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Diversions due to Fatigue
Apparently there were 2 in-flight diversions last week due to crew fatigue.
I am surprised that nobody is talking about it. It is also a rumor that the crew have been dragged over the coals for it.
I am surprised that nobody is talking about it. It is also a rumor that the crew have been dragged over the coals for it.
...and never forget that in many jurisdictions we fly into, if you have an incident, you as the PIC are immediately arrested by the police. You are not innocent until proven guilty...you have to prove your innocence...and don't expect any help from the company...all they are concerned about is maintaining their operating license into said country. I name Japan, Korea, China and much of the SEA jurisdiction where the police have immediate control over any aviation incident. Just ask one of the 49'ers about his first command flight into Narita.
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The legal flight time limitations/ CAD371 clearly state:
3.6 Factors to be considered when constructing crew rosters should include:
3.6.1 The undesirability of alternating day/night duties.
3.6.2 Avoiding scheduling rest periods of between 18 and 30 hours, except when rest is physiologically based.
3.6.3 The effect of consecutive flights through, or ending within, the window of circadian low.
3.6.4 The effect of consecutive transmeridian flights ensuring that sufficient rest, and where applicable sufficient physiological rest, is provided.
3.6.5 The notification of crews well in advance of days off.
The company not only avoids complying with this, it actively seeks to achieve the above points consistently in the name of productivity. Their response is, but it does not say we "shall not", only says "should avoid", therefore not a requirement.
Ha! Never has there been a more flagrant abuse of the intent of the paragraph. Yet in the name of commercial pressure, and prodctivity, the company deems that it is entirely acceptable to do it. And then they question why we are fatigued.
3.6 Factors to be considered when constructing crew rosters should include:
3.6.1 The undesirability of alternating day/night duties.
3.6.2 Avoiding scheduling rest periods of between 18 and 30 hours, except when rest is physiologically based.
3.6.3 The effect of consecutive flights through, or ending within, the window of circadian low.
3.6.4 The effect of consecutive transmeridian flights ensuring that sufficient rest, and where applicable sufficient physiological rest, is provided.
3.6.5 The notification of crews well in advance of days off.
The company not only avoids complying with this, it actively seeks to achieve the above points consistently in the name of productivity. Their response is, but it does not say we "shall not", only says "should avoid", therefore not a requirement.
Ha! Never has there been a more flagrant abuse of the intent of the paragraph. Yet in the name of commercial pressure, and prodctivity, the company deems that it is entirely acceptable to do it. And then they question why we are fatigued.
Last edited by anotherbusdriver; 16th Oct 2015 at 04:11. Reason: Layout
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I still blame the CAD for not making CX abide by the rules . It's way past time that the CAD stepped up and do,the job that it is tasked with , instead of rubber stamping everything that CX wants
