Confession that will make passengers uneasy: Most pilots are too tired to work!

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According to the results of a survey of approximately 7,200 captains and first officers conducted by the European Cockpit Association (ECA), almost a quarter (24%) of pilots admitted that they usually continue flying rather than declaring themselves unfit to fly due to fatigue, while 16.8% stated that they took sick leave instead.

Survey findings include pilots experiencing inadequate rest, pressure to extend working hours and fear of punishment if they declare themselves unfit to fly.

Aviation fatigue can be caused by factors that disrupt the body's natural sleep cycle, such as long working hours, inadequate rest, irregular work schedules and flying between time zones, The Guardian reported. This is considered a significant safety issue as it can impair pilots' judgment, prolong reaction times, reduce alertness, and negatively affect reactions to unexpected situations.

HIGHEST MICRO SLEEP RATE IS IN IRELAND

The survey, conducted in August, found that two-thirds of respondents had experienced brief, involuntary sleepiness at least once while flying in the past four weeks.

Pilots working for airlines based in Ireland and Malta reported the highest rates of microsleep. More than a third of participants said they did not get enough rest to prevent fatigue from accumulating over time. Pilots there were also among those most fearful of retaliation and least trusting of reporting systems.

The proportion of pilots who stated that they would fly while tired was higher in Spain, Ireland and France. Two-fifths of pilots working for airlines based in Spain and a third of pilots working for airlines based in Ireland and France said they often fly while tired. By contrast, only a tenth of pilots flying for a UK-based airline shared this view.

Although fatigue is common, only a third of pilots reported that they were generally unfit for duty when tired. Half admitted they had taken a flight in the three months before the survey when they should have declared they were too tired to fly.

THEY ARE AFRAID OF MANAGEMENT

While almost half of the survey respondents stated that they feared negative reactions from management if they reported being unfit for duty due to fatigue, only 11.9% trusted their airline's fatigue reporting system.

Ian Holder, managing director of aviation safety consultancy Baines Simmons, said the results revealed ongoing differences between how airlines and national authorities manage fatigue. “This survey reveals how European pilots experience fatigue risk management in practice,” he said.

ECA President Captain Tanja Harter called on the European Union Aviation Safety Agency to strengthen fatigue management rules and ensure airlines comply with non-punitive reporting requirements and the proper use of captain discretion.