Fatigue can be deleterious to pilot performance. The National Transportation Safety Board has called on the aviation community to reduce fatigue related accidents. Currently, there are few studies and guidance specific to collegiate aviation pilots. The current study is part of a larger effort by the authors to gain a clearer understanding of fatigue within the collegiate aviation environment. Collegiate aviation pilots are a unique group with different schedules, lifestyles, and demands when compared to airline, military, and on-demand pilots. The purpose of this study was to examine self-reported fatigue and sleepiness measures. Research instruments included the Karolinska Sleepiness Scale and the Samn-Perelli Fatigue Scale. The research team recruitedthirty-two collegiate aviation pilots from a large Midwestern university. Participants were asked to record their sleepiness and fatigue ratings four times a day, at intervals, for a total of four weeks over four months. Approximately 5,000 total data points were collected. Results indicated a significant difference between the times of day. The 8:00 a.m. recording time had the highest median fatigue and sleepiness score. There were no significant differences between the days of the week. However, overall median fatigue and sleepiness scores indicated participants were slightly fatigued and sleepy throughout the data collection period.
Article
An Analysis of Self-Reported Sleepiness and Fatigue Measures from Collegiate Aviation Pilots
Collegiate Aviation Review International
Submitting Campus
Daytona Beach
Department
Aeronautical Science
Document Type
Article
Publication/Presentation Date
5-20-2020
Abstract/Description
DOI
https://doi.org/10.22488/okstate.20.100209
Publisher
University Aviation Association
Citation Information
Keller, J., Mendonca, F. A. C., Laub*, T., & Wolfe*, S. (2020). An analysis of self-reported sleep measures from collegiate aviation pilots. Collegiate Aviation Review International 38(1). 148-164. https://doi.org/10.22488/okstate.20.100209
Dr. Mendonca was not affiliated with Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University at the time this paper was published.