Early study of fatigue on pilot performance
Thread Starter
Joined: Aug 2007
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From: Germany
Early study of fatigue on pilot performance
Dear colleagues,
I hope you can help me out. I remember reading a paper on a study about the effects of fatigue on pilot performance, but for the love of God I can't remember the title of the paper. Can you help?
I remember that it was a study conducted in the US following deregulation. The goal was to establish what effect the longer duty times/more sectors had on commuter pilots. Performance was measured in a simulator scenario. Two groups were formed: One consisting of pilots that had enjoyed a few days off prior to coming to the simulator, the other group consisted of pilots who flown together during the days prior to the simulator. To everybody's surprise, the pilots who had flown had a better performance, as they had already formed into teams. Possibly NASA-sponsored?
I hope you can help me out. I remember reading a paper on a study about the effects of fatigue on pilot performance, but for the love of God I can't remember the title of the paper. Can you help?
I remember that it was a study conducted in the US following deregulation. The goal was to establish what effect the longer duty times/more sectors had on commuter pilots. Performance was measured in a simulator scenario. Two groups were formed: One consisting of pilots that had enjoyed a few days off prior to coming to the simulator, the other group consisted of pilots who flown together during the days prior to the simulator. To everybody's surprise, the pilots who had flown had a better performance, as they had already formed into teams. Possibly NASA-sponsored?

Joined: Sep 2011
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From: Vienna
I suppose this source list is a bit too old to contain the mentioned study :-?
Joined: Nov 2016
Posts: 228
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From: Cumbria
Cpt S.... There was a study sponsered by BALPA in the UK as follows:
Pilot Fatigue - Effects, Countermeasures and Regulations. 936. Dr. J. C. Wilson, Capt A. Elsey, Dr. P. Hunton. Leicester University, presented at the eighth International Symposium on Aviation Psychology, Culumbus, Ohio, USA (1996?). you should be able to find it online, if not pm me.
Again BALPA sponsered another study on Pilot Fatique in or around 2007. The primary researcher and author of the report was Dr. Simon Bennett, again of Leicester University, you should be able to obtain a copy of that study either through BALPA or Simon Bennett.
Just to add here is a link:
http://www2.le.ac.uk/offices/press/p...-close-to-home
Pilot Fatigue - Effects, Countermeasures and Regulations. 936. Dr. J. C. Wilson, Capt A. Elsey, Dr. P. Hunton. Leicester University, presented at the eighth International Symposium on Aviation Psychology, Culumbus, Ohio, USA (1996?). you should be able to find it online, if not pm me.
Again BALPA sponsered another study on Pilot Fatique in or around 2007. The primary researcher and author of the report was Dr. Simon Bennett, again of Leicester University, you should be able to obtain a copy of that study either through BALPA or Simon Bennett.
Just to add here is a link:
http://www2.le.ac.uk/offices/press/p...-close-to-home
Last edited by Homsap; 1st July 2017 at 13:16.
Joined: Apr 2009
Aviation Qualifications: ATPL
Posts: 1,480
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From: A place in the sun
If you are looking for early reports, there was the Bader Report back in the 1970s:-
https://www.flightglobal.com/FlightP...20-%201776.PDF
Here is a GAPAN (now HCAP) paper which may have some useful references:-
http://www.gapan.org/file/2418/aircrew-fatigue.pdf
Access to the Bader Report could be gained through the National Archives:-
Report of the Committee on Flight Time Limitations, chaired by Group Captain Douglas... | The National Archives
I hope these help.
https://www.flightglobal.com/FlightP...20-%201776.PDF
Here is a GAPAN (now HCAP) paper which may have some useful references:-
http://www.gapan.org/file/2418/aircrew-fatigue.pdf
Access to the Bader Report could be gained through the National Archives:-
Report of the Committee on Flight Time Limitations, chaired by Group Captain Douglas... | The National Archives
I hope these help.
Thread Starter
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 123
Likes: 1
From: Germany
Dear all,
Many thanks for your swift help, it is greatly appreciated.
Unfortunately I am looking for this very study; I love the fact that it showed how much team work helps in dealing with abnormals/emergencies.
Many thanks for your swift help, it is greatly appreciated.
Unfortunately I am looking for this very study; I love the fact that it showed how much team work helps in dealing with abnormals/emergencies.

Joined: Sep 2011
Posts: 359
Likes: 0
From: Vienna





