Korean J Aerosp Environ Med.  2013 Aug;23(2):31-38.

How Critical Is the Fatigue Management for Pilots in Aviation Safety? - A Review, an Investigation and Some Critical Needs

• Kim D

Abstract

The fatigue is the highest physiological factors that cause the flight accident and also accidental damage is very severe. For this reason, it is encouraged to be included in ‘National priority actions list’ for managing strictly. International aviation organizations such as ICAO, FAA and EASA conduct different angles of review and apply FRMS (Fatigue Risk Management System) and international standards for fatigue management. This is also considered in the military field like US Air Force. In this study, we investigate the trends and measures for the fatigue management of pilots in aviation safety management into a multi-faceted perspective. First, we study causes, symptoms and phenomena about pilot fatigue and examined approaches for pilot fatigue management in civil/military aviation areas through various regulations. One investigates FLT (Flight Time Limitation), FRMS and information of fatigue measurement system on the organizational side as countermeasures for fatigue. Moreover, on the personal side, sleep management, napping, drug treatment for alertness maintain, caffeine intake, exercise and relaxation methods, etc. were considered. The awareness of fatigue, fatigue management development, integrating SMS (Safety Management System) and ORM (Operation Risk Management) into fatigue management, fatigue voluntary reporting system and fatigue management by FOQA/LOSA should be considered for effective and progressive fatigue management.

Keyword

Fatigue; Pilot; FRMS; SMS; Risk management