Shocking air travel study finds majority of pilots fall asleep on the job
Snooze control.A recent report found that a shocking number of pilots have fallen asleep while flying the friendly skies.According to the European Cockpit Association (ECA), more than three in four pilots have fallen asleep while operating an aircraft.
The study, released this week, found that 76.8% of the 7,200 pilots surveyed drifted off at the controls at least once in the previous four weeks.The report called these mid-flight naps “microsleeps,” which the National Sleep Foundation defines as brief, involuntary sleep episodes lasting several seconds that the sleeper may not recognize, posing substantial safety risks for those operating a vehicle or aircraft.In some cases, the micro-dozer may appear awake, even with their eyes open, but their brain is not processing information.
Per the Sleep Foundation, microsleeps are a common symptom of sleep deprivation.Unsurprisingly, fatigue was a major contributor to microsleeping while flying, with 38.8% of pilots reporting that they usually or always lacked sufficient rest, leading to cumulative fatigue.A culture of silence and muscling through exhaustion persists in the cockpit: only 37.2% of pilots said they report when they feel unfit or fatigued.
In comparison, 24.2% said they do not report and fly anyway, citing fear of punishment and management backlash as key deterrents.The ECA study highlighted concerns about Commander’s Discretion, a safety rule that lets the pilot-in-command legally extend their Flight Duty Period (FDP) and/or reduce the required rest period.Of those surveyed, 38.3% reported using Commander’s Discretion at least once in the past month, while 15.2% reported using it twice or more.
About 69.1% expressed concern about negative consequences if they refused an extension.Distressingly, 69.1% of pilots shared that they feared repercussions if they declined an extension.“When pilots fear career consequences, fatigue goes unreported, and the risk returns to the cockpit.Airlines and authori...