Crew factors in flight operations IX : effects of planned cockpit rest on crew performance and alertness in long-haul operations

Abstract

This report is the ninth in a series on physiological and psychological effects of flight operations on flight crews, and on the operational significance of these effects. Long-haul flight operations often involve rapid multiple time-zone changes, sleep disturbances, circadian disruptions, and long, irregular work schedules. These factors can result in fatigue, cumulative sleep loss, decreased alertness, and decreased performance in long-haul flight crews. Thus, operational effectiveness and safety may be compromised because of pilot fatigue. The primary goal of this study was to determine the effectiveness of a planned cockpit rest period to improve performance and alertness in nonaugmented, three-person long-haul flight operations. Twenty-one volunteer pilots participated and were randomly assigned to either a rest group or a no-rest group condition. The rest group (RG) was allowed a planned 40-min rest period during the low-workload, cruise portion of flight over water. Pilots rested one at a time, on a prearranged rotation, with two crew members maintaining the flight at all times. The no-rest group (NRG) had a 40-min planned control period identified during cruise but maintained their usual flight activities during this time. The four consecutive middle legs of a regularly scheduled transpacific trip, part of a 12-day trip pattern, were studied. Two legs were westbound day flights and two legs were eastbound night flights, with generally comparable flight and duty times. Overall, the study results provide support for differentiating fatigue countermeasures into two basic approaches. Methods to minimize or mitigate the effects of sleep loss, circadian disruption, and fatigue in flight operations, can be divided into (1) preventive strategies and (2) operational countermeasures. One acute, short-acting operational countermeasure that can temporarily reduce physiological sleepiness is napping. The planned cockpit nap in this study is considered to be an operational countermeasure that provided an acute, short-acting improvement in performance and alertness.

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