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Fatigue, Schedules, Sleep, and Sleepiness in U.S. Commercial Pilots During COVID-19

Cassie J. Hilditch and

Erin E. Flynn-Evans

Article Category: Research Article

Volume/Issue: Volume 93: Issue 5

Online Publication Date: May 01, 2022

DOI: 10.3357/AMHP.6031.2022

Page Range: 433 – 441

’ Associations (IFALPA) 19 released position statements on fatigue management during COVID-19 in recognition of the anticipated unique threats and challenges being faced both during the pandemic and looking ahead to return to service. While these collaborative groups of experts identified potential hazards, the same experts recommended that organizations collect data during this period to identify unforeseen risks and quantify the impact of projected challenges. Using a large cross-sectional survey and longitudinal approach in a subset of respondents, we aimed to explore

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Fig. 2.; A) Mean (6 SD) number of duty days and flight hours worked per month Prepandemic, Late 2020 (Round 1), and Early 2021 (Round 2). Duty Days response numbers: Prepandemic, N = 671; Late 2020, N = 497 (N = 90, no flights this month); Early 2021, N = 80 (N = 26, no flights this month). Flight hours response numbers: Prepandemic, N = 668; Late 2020, N = 495 (N = 90, no flights this month); Early 2021, N = 80 (N = 27, no flights this month). B) Change in monthly flight hours worked during Late 2020 relative to Prepandemic based on operations flown.

Cassie J. Hilditch and

Erin E. Flynn-Evans

Fig. 2.

A) Mean (6 SD) number of duty days and flight hours worked per month Prepandemic, Late 2020 (Round 1), and Early 2021 (Round 2). Duty Days response numbers: Prepandemic, N = 671; Late 2020, N = 497 (N = 90, no flights this month); Early 2021, N = 80 (N = 26, no flights this month). Flight hours response numbers: Prepandemic, N = 668; Late 2020, N = 495 (N = 90, no flights this month); Early 2021, N = 80 (N = 27, no flights this month). B) Change in monthly flight hours worked during Late 2020 relative to Prepandemic based on operations flown.

Fig. 1.; CONSORT flow diagram of Round 1 (left) and Round 2 (right) survey responses.

Cassie J. Hilditch and

Erin E. Flynn-Evans

Fig. 1.

CONSORT flow diagram of Round 1 (left) and Round 2 (right) survey responses.

Fig. 4.; Percentage of respondents reporting an increase from Prepandemic to Early 2021 in: A) the frequency of experiencing each factor (Experienced), B) the impact of each factor on their sleep (Sleep), and C) the impact of each factor on their ability to perform their job safely (Performance).

Cassie J. Hilditch and

Erin E. Flynn-Evans

Fig. 4.

Percentage of respondents reporting an increase from Prepandemic to Early 2021 in: A) the frequency of experiencing each factor (Experienced), B) the impact of each factor on their sleep (Sleep), and C) the impact of each factor on their ability to perform their job safely (Performance).

Fig. 3.; A) Self-reported sleep prior to and during the pandemic (mean 6 SD). Response numbers: Prepandemic sleep need, N = 622; Prepandemic days off, N = 617; Prepandemic work days, N = 617; Late 2020 sleep need, N = 563; Late 2020 days off, N = 558; Late 2020 work days, N = 472; Early 2021 sleep need, N = 107; Early 2021 days off, N = 107; Early 2021 work days, N = 80. B) Frequency of having trouble staying awake while driving, eating meals, or engaging in social activity prior to and during the pandemic. Response numbers: Prepandemic, N = 485; Late 2020, N = 484; Early 2021, N = 85. C) Percentage (6 SD) of flights on which pilots experienced fighting sleepiness prior to and during the pandemic. Response numbers: Prepandemic, N = 624; Late 2020, N = 486 (N = 80, did not fly this month); Early 2021, N = 85 (N = 22, did not fly this month). D) Percentage of respondents using in-flight countermeasures prior to and during the pandemic. Response numbers: Prepandemic, N = 573; Late 2020, N = 384; Early 2021, N = 67.

Cassie J. Hilditch and

Erin E. Flynn-Evans

Fig. 3.

A) Self-reported sleep prior to and during the pandemic (mean 6 SD). Response numbers: Prepandemic sleep need, N = 622; Prepandemic days off, N = 617; Prepandemic work days, N = 617; Late 2020 sleep need, N = 563; Late 2020 days off, N = 558; Late 2020 work days, N = 472; Early 2021 sleep need, N = 107; Early 2021 days off, N = 107; Early 2021 work days, N = 80. B) Frequency of having trouble staying awake while driving, eating meals, or engaging in social activity prior to and during the pandemic. Response numbers: Prepandemic, N = 485; Late 2020, N = 484; Early 2021, N = 85. C) Percentage (6 SD) of flights on which pilots experienced fighting sleepiness prior to and during the pandemic. Response numbers: Prepandemic, N = 624; Late 2020, N = 486 (N = 80, did not fly this month); Early 2021, N = 85 (N = 22, did not fly this month). D) Percentage of respondents using in-flight countermeasures prior to and during the pandemic. Response numbers: Prepandemic, N = 573; Late 2020, N = 384; Early 2021, N = 67.