Almost a quarter of European airline pilots fly when too fatigued to work
Pilots report pressure to extend working hours and fears of penalties for declaring themselves unfit to fly
TL;DR
- Three-quarters of European airline pilots have experienced microsleeps in the cockpit.
- Almost a quarter of pilots routinely fly despite being too fatigued to work.
- Pilots face pressure to extend working hours and fear penalties for reporting fatigue.
- Fatigue in aviation can impair judgment, slow reactions, and reduce alertness.
- Airlines are required to manage crew fatigue, but a survey reveals gaps in practice.
- Pilots working for airlines based in Ireland and Malta reported the highest levels of microsleeps and fears about reporting systems.
- Spain, Ireland, and France had a higher proportion of pilots who said they would fly when fatigued.
- Only a small percentage of pilots at low-cost carriers believed their airline managed fatigue risks well.
- Nearly 70% of pilots expressed concern about refusing to extend duty, indicating pressure on flight crews.
- The European Cockpit Association urges regulators to strengthen fatigue management rules and ensure compliance.