Fatigue in military aviation

Abstract

Fatigue in military aviation is gaining momentum as its fast paced and unpredictable environment is affecting airmen alertness, cognitive performance and impaired decision-making abilities among many other risks that may trigger or lead to errors and accidents. This thesis explores fatigue management arrangements in the selected transportation and logistics unit of one of the European Union Air Forces. Different methodological approaches were taken to investigate current fatigue and sleep arrangements among crew members (i.e. pilots and loadmasters) in the selected air base. The First study in semi-structured interviews gives clearer understanding of the overall organisational and operational activities, related to fatigue, including within military culture. The second study is a questionnaire survey which examines the data gathered and focuses on a construction of a military-specific model encapsulating the fatigue stressors and countermeasures whilst exploring current management of fatigue and sleep training. The last study of this thesis uses heuristic evaluation methodology to develop a military-specific fatigue report form which considers the needs and complexity of the selected air base. It considers key fatigue-related factors and their relationships. As a result of this thesis’s research, a Structural Equation Model was identified to present the correlation of interactions of fatigue, sleep and fatigue countermeasures and a Fatigue Report Form was developed to enable crew members in the selected air base to report fatigue. This thesis offers great impact on military aviation as it is a step towards the development of a Fatigue Risk Management System which is currently not in place in any European Air Force. Not only does this thesis have an impact on military aviation, but also in other settings such as, healthcare, manufacturing, and civilian transportation among many others which could benefit from the research and results of this thesis.