European Pilot Fatigue Survey Reports Microsleeps Among Respondents

The European Cockpit Association commissioned a survey to assess fatigue among European pilots and compare responses with a survey conducted three years earlier. The results, reported by Paddleyourownkanoo, describe pilots’ experiences and views on fatigue reporting and duty extensions.

Key details

• About 7,200 pilots participated.
• About 25% reported at least five microsleeps in the four weeks before responding.
• Thirty-seven percent said they had declared themselves unfit to fly when fatigued; 25% said they had not reported fatigue and flew.
• About 60% expressed concern about repercussions if they refused a duty extension under Commander’s Discretion.
• The report described little change in airlines’ fatigue-risk management processes compared with the earlier survey.

About 75% of respondents reported at least one microsleep in the four weeks before completing the survey.

Why it matters

The responses give a view of how pilots across Europe describe fatigue, reporting practices and concerns about extending duty. The report also noted lower trust in fatigue reporting and greater use of Commander’s Discretion among pilots at low-cost carriers, and identified Ireland- and Malta-based airlines among the lower-scoring groups in several survey areas.

What happens next

No further timeline was announced.