Worrying Incidence of Cockpit Microsleeps Reported

A newly-released report painted a poor picture of fatigue risk management in European aviation. Subject report—compiled by the aviation safety management consultancy Baines Simmons and titled A fatigue survey of European Pilots—analyzed the responses of nearly 6,900 European pilots hailing from 31 countries. The report identified not only significant indicators of fatigue ahead of the busy summer travel season, but shortcomings peculiar to the means by which European airlines manage fatigue risks. Airlines under the safety oversight of several countries—in particular Ireland, Malta, Spain, and the UK—stood out as the worst performers across many of the aspects addr

AAL Set to Foment Passenger Outrage

American Airlines’s new pilot contract states deadheading pilots will henceforth be assigned the highest class of service for all transoceanic international flights, flights to Hawaii and Alaska, and flights extending south of the equator. Moreover, deadheading pilots on routes other than the aforementioned will initially be assigned economy-class seating in the following preference order: exit row aisle, exit row window, non-exit row aisle, non-exit row window. Finally, deadheading pilots assigned economy seats will remain in perpetuity atop first-class upgrade lists.