While you try to catch some Zs on your flight, there is a good chance the pilot flying your plane may be doing the same. A recent report says a startling number of pilots have fallen asleep in the cockpit.
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Your Pilot Might Be Sleeping on the Job
As the New York Post reports, a study by the European Cockpit Association (ECA) found that 76.8% of the 7,200 pilots surveyed fell asleep while flying a plane at least once in the last four weeks.
The report called these mid-flight naps "microsleeps." According to the Cleveland Clinic, they are brief moments of sleep that last no more than half a minute. They are a common symptom of sleep deprivation.
These involuntary moments happen when you're extremely tired. Your eyes may stay open, and you may not have realized you've dozed off. Yet your brain does not process information. Obviously, "microsleeps" can be dangerous for anyone operating a car or, in this case, a plane.
Fatigue May Be the Cause
The ECA's report said fatigue is a major contributor to microsleep incidents. It said 38.8% of pilots usually or always lacked sufficient rest, which can lead to cumulative fatigue.
The survey also reported that only 37.2% of pilots surveyed say they report when they feel fatigued or unfit to fly. It added that almost a quarter of those pilots said they do not report and fly anyway. They cite fear of punishment and management backlash as reasons they hop in the cockpit despite being tired.
"When pilots fear career consequences, fatigue goes unreported, and the risk returns to the cockpit. Airlines and authorities must ensure genuinely non-punitive reporting and use of Commander's Discretion," said ECA Board Director Capt. Coen George in a statement.
He added that some airlines push their crews to extend flight duty to make up for delays, and some punish them for refusing.
George said, "We have alerted aviation authorities multiple times about such pressures - which are clearly detrimental to our safety margins - but we still wait to see meaningful action to stop this."
The report comes several years after two Ethiopian Airlines pilots flying a Boeing 737 fell asleep in the cockpit and missed their landing. It underscores a continuing concern as the aviation industry navigates a staffing crisis. Reports say the industry faces a shortfall of 24,000 pilots this year.
