As long as human beings are pilots, fatigue represents a major threat to the safety of aircraft operations. Circadian rhythms govern the process of activities such as hormone production, cell regeneration and other biological activities on an approximately twenty-four basis. These rhythms are typically endogenously generated and govern sleeping and feeding pattern of all living things including humans, however external cues including temperature and sunlight can affect this process(Wikipediaorg, 2016).
Fatigue is typically considered to be a very deep tiredness that is usually as a result of lack of physical or mental fitness, poor or restless sleeping patterns, poor diet, drug or alcohol consumption, prolonged stress or anxiety or physical illness such as cold(Robson, 2013). In an aviation environment the major factors of fatigue include oxygen deprivation from normal levels, noise, vibration, …show more content…
Physical fatigue is often described as feeling weakness. It is when an individual’s muscles are simply not up to the task at hand or not as capable as they usually are. Treating fatigue as a condition in itself symptoms of this in pilots includes sloppy flying born out of poor control inputs, head drooping, half closed eyes and staring(Robson, 2013). Alleviation of physical fatigue varies by symptom generally resting effected muscles, sleep, food, water and regular exercise aid in reducing the effects of physical fatigue.
Mental fatigue is considered the greatest risk to pilots as the nature of aircraft operations tends towards mental versus physical. Mental fatigue often occurs as result of loss or interruption of normal sleep patterns and is often lead by physical fatigue(Skybraryaero, 2016). Mental fatigue is typically of great concern to pilots who are operating on long haul flights across multiple time zones or who fly at night when the greatest interruption of circadian rhythms occurs(Skybraryaero,
Fatigue is typically considered to be a very deep tiredness that is usually as a result of lack of physical or mental fitness, poor or restless sleeping patterns, poor diet, drug or alcohol consumption, prolonged stress or anxiety or physical illness such as cold(Robson, 2013). In an aviation environment the major factors of fatigue include oxygen deprivation from normal levels, noise, vibration, …show more content…
Physical fatigue is often described as feeling weakness. It is when an individual’s muscles are simply not up to the task at hand or not as capable as they usually are. Treating fatigue as a condition in itself symptoms of this in pilots includes sloppy flying born out of poor control inputs, head drooping, half closed eyes and staring(Robson, 2013). Alleviation of physical fatigue varies by symptom generally resting effected muscles, sleep, food, water and regular exercise aid in reducing the effects of physical fatigue.
Mental fatigue is considered the greatest risk to pilots as the nature of aircraft operations tends towards mental versus physical. Mental fatigue often occurs as result of loss or interruption of normal sleep patterns and is often lead by physical fatigue(Skybraryaero, 2016). Mental fatigue is typically of great concern to pilots who are operating on long haul flights across multiple time zones or who fly at night when the greatest interruption of circadian rhythms occurs(Skybraryaero,