How Business Aviation Pilots Are Staying Safe and Alert

Long-range aviation has leaped lightyears ahead in the century since “Lucky Lindy” completed his 33-hour solo slog from New York to Paris. With their super-efficient engines, GPS-based navigation and satellite-based connectivity, today’s ultra-long-range business jets can easily leapfrog the globe.

However, those aircraft capabilities still have to accommodate crew member flight fatigue. Sitting for hours, even in the most comfortable seat, can take a considerable toll on a pilot’s alertness. So why don’t flight departments pay more attention to the dangers of fatigue?

“The majority of long-distance business aviation flights aren’t done on the backside of the clock like airline and freight hauling pilots, so right now, it’s not a huge problem in business aviation,” explained Jeff Guzzetti, president of Guzzetti Aviation Risk Discovery, LLC. “But the issue does exist, and it can be deadly.”

Guzzetti stressed the need for every operator and their crews to make a proactive approach to fatigue mitigation part of their daily pre-flight routine.

“Everyone should receive some type of training as to how to recognize fatigue, not only in themselves but in others,” he continued. “Everyone knows the signs – yawning, weariness, low reactions, irritability, difficulty concentrating. It seems obvious, but in aviation especially, you really have to pay attention to people every day. It’s a physical and mental issue.”

First Step: Ask This Question

Quay Snyder, president and CEO of Aviation Medicine Advisory Service, said the first step is to simply ask the question, “How are you feeling today?”

“That question needs to be asked before every flight. And it’s not just the pilots you are asking; it’s the maintainers and dispatchers, too,” he said. “I particularly worry about the maintainers. They often have to work on the backside of the circadian clock (10:00 pm to 8:00 am) to get their aircraft ready for a flight. And they don’t have automation and redundancy as backups. They’re the only ones who can do it.

“Pilots do a great job applying an aircraft’s checklist pre-flight, but they don’t do well for their own pre-flight condition,” Snyder continued. He recommended the IM SAFE (Illness, Medication, Stress, Alcohol, Fatigue and Emotion) personal checklist, which is detailed in Chapter 8 of the FAA’s Aeronautical Information Manual. “We are our own worst judges when it comes to fatigue and mental wellness,” Snyder said.

Both Guzzetti and Snyder say that establishing a fatigue risk management program is definitely not a do-it-yourself undertaking. The biggest reason is that a flight department would need to collect personal information to accurately perform fatigue assessments on each team member. Therefore, it’s best left to an outside organization specializing in this kind of work.

If you do want an idea of what these types of programs include, there are plenty of resources on fatigue management from the FAA, NBAA, Vertical Aviation International (formerly HAI), FlightSafety, the Flight Safety Foundation and others. Snyder highlighted the Flight Safety Foundation’s “Duty/Rest Guide for Business Aviation” booklet as an excellent source.

Of course, you can hire an outside contractor to handle the fatigue management program for you. But, whatever you do, don’t just walk away from it.

And speaking of walking, Guzzetti stressed the benefits of aviation managers or chief pilots taking the time to walk through their department and say hello to everyone.

“It’s easy to spot issues if you look. Don’t be afraid to ask someone how they’re feeling today,” he said. “Even if there’s no issue with fatigue, it’s really good for morale to show you care.”

If you are concerned that your team may not be as forthcoming as you’d like about their fatigue levels, you could consider implementing a structured pre-flight program like that used by many air ambulance operators.

“They have a structured practice at the beginning of each shift that requires crew members to rate how tired they are feeling,” Guzzetti said. “It forces them to be honest about their overall condition.”

Another very beneficial fatigue mitigation step you can take is to dedicate a “rest environment” in your department and make it readily available to everyone. It doesn’t have to be anything elaborate as long as it’s quiet, cool and dark, which are all required elements for a quick and effective mid-day nap.

There’s Only One Antidote

You may be thinking that you haven’t needed a nap since you were a baby. But sleep is the only effective antidote for fatigue. After all, it’s also the leading cause of the problem.

The simple fact is, if you’re like most adults, you’re not getting enough sleep. According to an NBAA-sponsored report by Alertness Solutions, along with well-known ones like insomnia, sleep apnea and restless leg syndrome, there are about 90 known physical, emotional and technology-related sleep disorders. Millions of people have one of them and never know it – they just “don’t sleep well.”

Lost sleep and the disruption of the body’s clock are known to lead to all kinds of performance and safety-degrading symptoms, including diminished alertness, impairment of judgment and decision-making, slowed reaction times and mood swings – the list goes on and on.

The benefits of grabbing a quick doze on the flight deck were well established in a multi-year study done by NASA’s Ames Research Center.

The goal of the tests was to determine the effectiveness of a “planned cockpit rest period to improve alertness and performance in long-haul flight operations.” The test rest group was allowed a planned, 40-minute rest period during a low-workload portion of the flight.

According to the report’s findings, the napping pilots demonstrated “improved psychological alertness and performance compared to the non-napping group.” While the findings were positive in favor of naps, the FAA restricted the use of “Controlled Crew Rest” of unaugmented flight crews via a 2012 Chief Counsel interpretation.

Tips to Mitigate Fatigue

There are plenty of other things pilots can do to give their minds and bodies a bit of a pre-landing wake-up call.

“There are some great isometric exercises you can do that will help. Put one hand against the palm of the other hand and push while you resist that pressure. Another is to do calf stretches and move your feet up and down at the ankle,” Guzzetti said. “Getting the blood pumping makes you more alert.”

“Any short movement will help temporarily mitigate the sensation of fatigue,” Snyder added. “Dehydration is another cause of feeling fatigued. Make sure you drink plenty of water before and during a flight.”

“Caffeine can help, but it takes about a half-hour to kick in and only lasts four or five hours,” he continued. “Another tip is to go on oxygen for an hour or so before you start your descent. Higher cabin altitudes greatly compound the effects of fatigue. At a minimum, get some cold air blowing on your face. That will help increase alertness.”

However, the most effective way to minimize fatigue in flight is to mitigate it before entering the flight deck.

“The best practice is to get enough sleep,” Guzzetti explained. “Eight hours a night is optimal. And try to eat well. Also, do not watch TV or surf the net before going to bed. If your mind gets worked up, you’re not going to sleep well.”

The one big takeaway tip shared by both experts is to be open and honest with those around you. If you don’t feel up to flying today, then don’t. As the saying goes, “It’s better to be on the ground wishing you were in the air than in the air wishing you were on the ground.”