Pilot Stress

Two of the most prevailing reasons why aviation safety is impaired are pilot stress and fatigue. Research has shown that pilots are under increased stress when they perform their duties, which makes their job one of the most stressful.

Causes of Pilot StressWork-Stress and Its Effects on Pilots

Work-stress is a major reason why pilots demonstrate reduced task performance. A study conducted by Little, Gaffney, Rosen, & Bender, in 1990 indicated that US civilian pilots are under greater work-stress when they worked for unstable airlines.

Causes of Pilot Stress

Life-stress and Effects on PilotsThe findings of a survey that took place in 1980 and analyzed aircraft accidents from 1977-1978, showed that those pilots that had: marital problems, financial problems, a death in the family or close social circle, troubles with peers/subordinates/superiors or made an important decision in regards their future, were more likely to cause an aircraft accident (Alkov and Borowsky, 1980 p.860-2).

Pilot Fatigue

“the state of tiredness that is associated with long hours of work, prolonged periods without sleep orthe requirement to work at times that are out of synch with the body's biological or circadian rhythms”

Causes of Pilot Fatigue?

?• Fatigue due to extended flights/ flying after a workday.• Night/late afternoon flight.• Boredom due to low workload/monitoring role.• Exhaustion from continuous/enhanced workload.• Physical environment (low/high temperature, low/high pressure, humidity levels, noise, turbulence).

Pilots cannot be on duty more than 16 hours at a stretch or at the controls more than eight, and they must get an eight-hour break between shifts. (abcnews.go.com).

Other Effects of Pilot Fatigue

Decision Making

Baradell and Klein (1993), who claim that stress alter the regular autonomic reactions, like respiration and heart rate (p. 267). When autonomic reactions increase, it draws the pilot’s attention away from anything else.

PerformanceAttentional deficits have long been recognized to be the common cognitive thread of sleep loss effects... To the extent that this is true, it seems reasonable to posit that all cognitive tasks eventually will show impairment during sleep loss

Conclusion

On May 14, 2012 more than 300 pilots and cabin crew from all across Europe showed their concern about the European Aviation Safety Agency’s “proposed EU law on Flight Time Limitations, which should be aimed at preventing safety risks associated with air crew fatigue” (European Cockpit Association, 2012 p. 5). Hopefully, things will change and people and pilots alike can enjoy safer flights from now on.