Thu, Sep 17, 2009
Safety Alert Focuses On Short-Haul Operators
The FAA has issues a 'Safety Alert
For Operators'(SAFO) in light of frequent reports of crew fatigue,
particularly among short-haul pilots and crew.
The SAFO indicates short-haul pilots commonly identify sleep
deprivation and high workload as the main factors contributing to
their fatigue. Long-haul pilots, however, generally attribute sleep
deprivation and circadian rhythm disruption caused by multiple
time-zone crossings as the main causes of fatigue. Both short-haul
and long-haul flight crewmembers report fatigue resulting from
multiple flight legs, early wake times, consecutive duty days,
insufficient recovery sleep periods, time demands and high
workloads resulting from high density air traffic environments. The
SAFO concludes fatigue is a hazard that if not properly mitigated
or countermeasures enacted, can elevate the risk of these flight
operations, and says certificate holders must recognize the
potential for elevated risk and be proactive in minimizing exposure
to fatigue-related incidents or accidents.
The report says that, typically, short-haul (domestic) pilots
are engaged in “hub and spoke” operations with some
limited point-to-point flying. Short-haul crews are challenged by
schedules that involve short turn-around times between multiple
flights. Pilots conducting these types of operations report their
schedules typically consist of four to five segments, averaging
approximately six hours of flight time. Thirteen to fifteen hour
duty days typify this type of operation. The result is an increased
workload due to the multiple take-offs and landings and time
constraints of meeting schedule deadlines over the course of the
long day.
It goes on to say that scheduling factors have a major impact on
a crewmember’s ability to sleep and maintain a proper level
of alertness. Sleep loss is one of the primary contributors to
fatigue in flightcrew and is directly related to a variety of
scheduling factors. In short-haul operations, pilots normally fly a
round trip out of a hub and then may sit for several hours before
their next flight. This type of scheduling has the potential for a
latent condition that contributes to the cumulative effects of
fatigue.
The document says that both
operators and individual pilots are responsible for assuring they
have ample sleep opportunities. as a critical countermeasure to
fatigue. Certificate holders should consider providing crew rest
facilities that have rooms away from the general traffic for quiet,
comfortable and uninterrupted sleep as well as expedited
transportation to and from the airport in the layover city.
Individual pilots must understand the importance of sleep
opportunities and ensure they are properly rested prior to the next
flight day.
The FAA concludes that part 121 Directors of Operations and
Safety and part 135 Directors of Operations should review their
current policies and procedures addressing flight crewmember
fatigue countermeasures. This review should address at minimum:
- Current scheduling practices;
- Scheduled or assigned rest periods;
- Establish effective rest enhancing prerequisites for layover
city hotels; and
- Encourage the use of flightcrew rest facilities between flights
to counter the effects of cumulative fatigue.
- Educate their pilots and crew on the importance of proper rest
and encourage them to take advantage of rest facilities.
It further recommends that pilots in part 121 or 135 operations
should understand their responsibility with regard to ensuring that
they achieve the required rest so they are properly rested and fit
for each assigned or scheduled flight. The Federal Aviation
Administration (FAA) will continue to research the subject of
fatigue, evaluate the relevant data and inform the commercial
operations community of effective methods for reducing flightcrew
fatigue.
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