Pilot fatigue and FTL's
 

I'm currently researching into pilot fatigue and FTL's for my MSc at Brum uni in aviation Health and Safety. having flown some routes I was pretty knackered and that was just sitting on the jump seat! Perhaps the people who write the rules should come and try the routes first?

i have a questionnaire in progress at http://web.bham.ac.uk/lxh296/ with which I want to try and give substance to the powers that be on the question of fatigue. It contains a scale that can show how many pilots are actually 'seriously fatigued'.

The aim is to make the results available to CAA, BALPA and pilots through publication in aviation and occupational medicine journals. Anyone who is interested in seeing the results can e-mail me.

i have made some notes on sleep deprivation and how to make the most of your sleep (eg sleep credits and debits, circadian gates, napping etc). Anyone who wants a copy please let me have your e-mail address and I'll send one.

In the meantime, any anecdotal evidence that may be useful will be gratefully received.

Laurie:zzz:

Suggest you get in touch with Qinetic

Good luck with your project. Unfortunately, there have been a number of academic studies on pilot fatigue, and other related topics, but the regulatory bodies have simply ignored them. At the end of the day the big bucks, and influence, of the bigger companies seems to hold sway.

It is a very important issue, and I do hope that you not only get a lot of input to complete your study, but that someone in one of the towers of officialdom wakes up long enough to read it, and take it seriously.

Good luck.

Study update
 

Many thanks for your replies. I have had some really interesting (although not unexpected) responses but the intensity of feelings regarding FTL's is quite marked.

I am aware that it may not be looked on too keenly by the CAA but I am determined that they will get a copy of the results as will BALPA and any other interested parties. At least it will be backed up by solid research rather than just anecdotal evidence so it can't be ignored quite so easily. The project has been accepted, in principle for publication by a peer review occupational health journal and will also be offered to flying mgazines at the appropriate time.

I am now collating the results with the study completed by August so will be able to post results Sept.

Thanks for encouragement and for everyone's help who has contributed.

Laurie:ok: