Aircrew fatigue in long-haul operations

The studies were conducted on the transmeridian routes Düsseldorf (DUS)–Atlanta (ATL) and Hamburg (HAM)–Los Angeles (LAX), and on the north–south route Frankfurt (FRA)–Mahe (SEZ). Scheduled flight duration was between 8:50 hours (ATL–DUS) and 11:50 hours (HAM–LAX). In total, 25 rotations (50 flights) have been investigated by pre-, in- and post-flight data collection of sleep, taskload, fatigue and stress by electroencephalogram and electrocardiogram measurements and subjective ratings. Inflight ratings of taskload showed low perceived exertion during the Atlantic flights, and were moderate during the north–south transitions. Fatigue ratings increased with progressing flight duration. Towards the end of long US-westcoast flights performed at day-time, and in all night flights, fatigue was elevated compared to the ‘baseline’ ratings collected during the day-time DUS–ATL flights. Fatigue was rated as being ‘critical’ by several pilots, particularly during the return flight SEZ–FRA when fatigue was severely pronounced. From the findings it is concluded that duty schedules, as performed on the route HAM–LAX (because of long duty hours), and particularly on the route FRA–SEZ (because of consecutive night work), may place excessive demands on mental and physiological capacity. With respect to legal aspects, the results are significant and should promote further deliberations for advanced schemes of flight duty time limitations and rest requirements.