While traditional fatigue reports offer some benefits, accurately reflecting an operator's overall fatigue risk exposure is not one of them. A comprehensive pilot survey conducted last year by ECA and Baines Simmons revealed that 75% of pilots experienced microsleeps within the previous four weeks. Alarmingly, one in four pilots reported experiencing more than four uncontrolled periods of sleep while on duty.
These findings highlight a significant issue: under-reporting. When comparing the survey results to the number of fatigue reports submitted, it becomes clear that many instances of fatigue go unreported. The current fatigue reporting process is far from representative. Typically, only the most severe cases get reported, and even then, pilots may hesitate due to the time-consuming nature of the reports or concerns about potential repercussions from their employer.
As a result, the data collected is skewed, providing an inaccurate picture of fatigue-related safety risks. This under-reporting problem makes traditional fatigue reports unsuitable for safety assurance purposes. Trends in fatigue reporting often bear little relation to whether an operator’s ability to manage fatigue-related risk has improved or deteriorated over time.
Are you interested in tracking and monitoring your fatigue risk more comprehensively? Would you like to gather meaningful data that highlights trends in fatigue exposure?
Jeppesen is now offering a new data collection capability that goes beyond the limitations of traditional fatigue reports. This service is available to airlines beyond our current customer base and offers:
Complementary data to traditional fatigue reports
Truly representative fatigue data
Minimal workload for crew members
Complete privacy and data security for individuals
Quick, easy, and cost-effective setup
To learn more about how your airline can benefit from a continuous data flow that enhances fatigue risk management, contact us here.
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