A hidden problem is surfacing regarding certain pilots' behavior.More than three in four pilots reported having at least one "microsleep" while operating an aircraft in recent weeks, according to a report by aviation consultancy Baines Simmons, based on responses from 7,200 pilots across 32 European countries.The findings were published by the European Cockpit Association (ECA), which represents over 44,000 pilots across Europe, according to a press release.HOW MUCH REST SHOULD FLIGHT ATTENDANTS GET? NEW PROPOSAL IGNITES FIGHT IN THE SKIESThe concerns extend beyond brief episodes of sleep in the cockpit.Nearly 39% of pilots said they usually or always did not get enough rest to keep fatigue from building up, according to the report.The findings also raised questions about whether pilots feel comfortable reporting when they are too tired to fly.More than three in four pilots reported having at least one "microsleep" while operating an aircraft in recent weeks, according to a study.
(Yuriko Nakao/Getty Images)Only 37.2% said they typically report when they are too fatigued to fly, while 24.2% said they do not report it and fly anyway, according to the findings. "When pilots fear career consequences, fatigue goes unreported and the risk returns to the cockpit," Capt.Coen George, an ECA board director, said in the press release.He warned that the reluctance to speak up could leave airlines unaware of how widespread fatigue is among their crews.In the United States, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) implemented stricter pilot rest and duty requirements back in 2012 to address fatigue and improve safety, the agency said in a statement to Fox News Digital.Pilot fatigue can be particularly challenging when crews work overnight or travel across multiple time zones.Under the rules, pilots must receive at least 10 consecutive hours of rest before a flight duty period, including an opportunity for eight uninterrupted hours of sleep.
Pilots who feel fatigued or unfit ...