Fatigue and its Effect in Aviation - Research Proposal Example

Fatigue and its Effect in Aviation Name of Student Student Number Institution Course Code Name of Lecturer Date of Submission Background of the Study Introduction Aviation work calls for alertness and efficiency to avoid any hitches during a flight (NRC, 2011). Fatigue in the aviation industry forms a critical aspect for consideration to reduce occurrence of accidents. It has been blamed in various aviation accidents in the past and is a continuous problem that has wreaked havoc in the aviation industry among crews flying aircrafts of all sizes (Goode, 2003). Fatigue can be termed as an insidious threat to safety in the aviation sector due to the impairment in alertness and performance that result. Fatigue per se is associated with loss or insufficient sleep and long duty cycles which subject aviators to be sloppy, careless, lack attention, and inefficient in their work (Jackson and Earl, 2006).Nevertheless, acquisition of sufficient sleep is subject to the lifestyle and other commitments bestowed upon the aviator. Fatigue in the Aviation Sector Fatigue is referred to as a deep tiredness that is cumulative (Jackson and Earl, 2006). In most cases, it is brought about by lack of adequate sleep, lack of physical and mental fitness, elevated mental and physical stress, as well as anxiety. Fatigue at work may be made worse with challenges of social life (Harrison and Horne, 2000). Take for instance a pilot who is also experiencing family struggles, or not having a sober environment to take rest; this would consequently result to elevated stress levels. Nevertheless, it is not absolutely certain that an individual working in the aviation like any other person can be able to evade the life challenges (NRC, 2011). It is the prerogative of the person to come up with strategies that would aid in the acquisition of adequate rest and rule out fatigue in the duty times. Pilots or any other aviators in the aviation industry who are supposed to be keen in their work, like the engineers, flight controllers, should be able to improve their sleep habits (Jackson and Earl, 2006). This would result to more restful and restorative sleep through utilization of self-administered relaxation therapy, coming up with consistent and soothing bedtime’s routines, as well as avoiding some activities and substances before sleep that would impair sleeping concentration or cause hangovers (NRC, 2011). In the events where opportunities for adequate sleep are not available due to work-related factors, it is prudent to utilize prophylactic naps to sustain efficiency at work until sleep is possible. Description of the Problem Overview This study seeks to evaluate fatigue in the aviation industry and consequently outline its effects. It is common knowledge that virtually every person experiences fatigue. However, according to Goode (2003) there are professions that call for extra demand of alertness and fatigue degrades its efficiency and performance. Aviation falls in this category of professions that require soberness, alertness, as well as precise, rapid and well-informed decision making, coupled with communication of little margin error. The potential of fatigue to negatively affect the performance of human beings has been well established (Harrison and Horne, 2000). The concern about this potential within aviation sector dates back for decades, with aircrew staff agreeing that fatigue is a safety concern. The most recent deliberation has been to do with whether and how pilot commuting which is carried in a pilot’s off-duty time has an effect on fatigue during flight duty (University of Leicester, 2013). Effects of Fatigue on the aviation Staff Among the aircrew, fatigue affects their alertness and judgement which are very critical in the profession (Jackson and Earl, 2006). It is a very critical aspect within the aviation sector which is associated with sleep loss and shift work. Goode (2003) opines that pilots having to endure long duty cycles make them inattentive, careless and inefficient. The aircrew staffs have the tendency to experience loss or disturbance of sleep, having irregular work-rest cycles, trans-meridian flights and various job-related factors arising from fatigue (University of Leicester, 2013). Therefore, the challenges brought about by fatigue calls for management through understanding the relationship that exists between working conditions and fatigue. NASA Aviation Reporting System indicates that 21% of all reported aviation incidents are related to fatigue (NRC, 2011). This problem has been termed as an on-going one facing pilots flying all sized aircrafts causing many accidents globally. This is a problem that is not affected by motivation, professionalism, status or training (Jackson and Earl, 2006). Rather, it is rooted in the well-being of the pilot, either physically or psychologically. Thus, there is need to evaluate this aspect of fatigue and its effects in the aviation industry in order to come up with findings that would help to considerably bring down the accidents occurring due to fatigue. There is need for strategies to be put in place outlining the minimum rest requirement for pilots and flight attendants. Further, all aircrew and other staff in the control room, as well as engineering maintenance department require enough rest in order to work effectively (Goode, 2003). The U.S. Federal Aviation Regulation (FARS) indicates that pilots and flight attendants require at least nine hours of rest following any scheduled duty period (NRC, 2011). The U.S. Congress in the summer of 2010 directed the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to update regulations governing pilot flight duty time, while taking into account recent research that relates to sleep and fatigue (NRC, 2011).The Congress also directed FAA to establish a National Academy of Sciences to carry out a study on the effects of commuting on pilot fatigue. This brings up the essence of establishing the effects of fatigue in the aviation industry in respect to discussing policies, economic and regulatory issues affecting pilot commuting (Jackson and Earl, 2006). The result would be recommendations aimed at enhancing aviation work to exterminate the accidents resulting from fatigue by pilots. Justification of the Study The aviation technology has evolved greatly to become very efficient and effective (Goode, 2003). But the fact remains that the flying, maintenance and control work is done by human beings who need sleep to rest. This is line to ensuring sound judgement and decision making in cases of emergency. A fatigued individual has degraded aspects of performance; which consists of judgement, decision making, reaction time, selective attention, memory, concentration, mood and fixation (Harrison and Horne, 2000). The aspect of sleep comes in regard to the low arousal that is produced by sleep loss accompanied by great performance decrement on simple rather than on complex tasks. Amid the fact that individuals differ in the extent of sleep required, studies suggest that sufficient sleep of 8-hours per night would make one rest fully (Goode, 2003). Shift workers mostly sleep fewer hours in comparison to non-shift workers and in most cases the duration of sleep being influenced by sleep timing. Thus, pilots flying trans-meridian flights develop cumulative sleep deprivation, which may lead to physical and health symptoms like gastrointestinal and bowel problems (Jackson and Earl, 2006). Methodology Proposed This study will utilize a descriptive design to realize the main objective of this study. Since the aviation industry is extensive, this research study will evaluate two set of staff in aviation: the pilots and air controllers. The study will seek to come up with two set of data; primary and secondary data. This is crucial to obtain conclusive findings to establish fatigue and its effects in the aviation industry. Primary data will be outsourced through survey of staff in aviation. Through stratified sampling, a sample of twenty respondents will be made comprising of ten pilots and ten air controllers. Each set of respondents will be expected to fill in a questionnaire tool surveying their working condition, duration of work, challenges faced and the time availed for sleep and rest. On the same note, the survey tool will look into how fatigue affects their concentration at work. Secondary data will be outsourced through document analysis. Document analysis will be utilized to ensure that primary data obtained is sufficient to support the study and come up with comprehensive analysis to achieve a concrete conclusion. The documents for analysis will involve journals, publications, policies and regulations pertaining to aviation work and required work for rest, shift work and fatigue. Further, documents illustrating causes of fatigue in the aviation sector will be evaluated. Ethical Considerations This study will uphold high degree of ethical consideration in respect to the aspect of data collection from the aviation staff. Secondly the study will be guided by the principle of informed consent. Through informed consent participants in the study will be made aware that participation is voluntary. Also, discussions with the respondents will be done for purposes of the study and building a rapport with the sampled respondents. The names of the respondents shall remain anonymous in order to protect their identity. The final results of the study shall be made available for any person who wishes to read them, and finally professional standards of conducting the exercise shall be maintained. Relevant authorisation will be outsourced from the Aviation Sector to conduct a study on its employees. This will be guided by the principle of confidentiality pertaining to the fact that findings will be generalised and will not indicate specific airlines or sector. Conclusion In conclusion, this study looks into the aspect of fatigue and its effects in the aviation industry. Fatigue has been established to create great loss through accidents. Therefore, via a descriptive study, this research will evaluate fatigue in respect to aviation, and then outline its effects. With effective findings through survey and document analysis, the study will come up with recommendation on effective ways to overcome stress, and mitigate its effects in the aviation industry. One recommendation that is enforceable is the following up of aircrews and pilots to ensure they have adequate sleep. This would go a long way in ensuring efficiency and alertness in the course of their duty. References Goode, J. H. (2003). Are pilots at risk of accidents due to fatigue? Journal of Safety Research, 34(3): 309-313. Harrison, Y. and Horne, J. A. (2000). The impact of sleep deprivation on decision making: A review. Journal of Experimental Psychology- Applied, 6(3): 236-249. Jackson, C. A. and Earl, L. (2006). Prevalence of fatigue among commercial pilots. Occupational medicine, 56(4): 263-268. National Research Council (NRC) (2011). The effects of commuting on pilot fatigue. Washington, DC: The National Academics Press. University of Leicester (2013). Pilot fatigue is threat to safety: Expert criticises European proposals to relax flight-time limits. Science Daily. Accessed on April 15, 2014 from . Read More

This would result to more restful and restorative sleep through utilization of self-administered relaxation therapy, coming up with consistent and soothing bedtime’s routines, as well as avoiding some activities and substances before sleep that would impair sleeping concentration or cause hangovers (NRC, 2011). In the events where opportunities for adequate sleep are not available due to work-related factors, it is prudent to utilize prophylactic naps to sustain efficiency at work until sleep is possible.

Description of the Problem Overview This study seeks to evaluate fatigue in the aviation industry and consequently outline its effects. It is common knowledge that virtually every person experiences fatigue. However, according to Goode (2003) there are professions that call for extra demand of alertness and fatigue degrades its efficiency and performance. Aviation falls in this category of professions that require soberness, alertness, as well as precise, rapid and well-informed decision making, coupled with communication of little margin error.

The potential of fatigue to negatively affect the performance of human beings has been well established (Harrison and Horne, 2000). The concern about this potential within aviation sector dates back for decades, with aircrew staff agreeing that fatigue is a safety concern. The most recent deliberation has been to do with whether and how pilot commuting which is carried in a pilot’s off-duty time has an effect on fatigue during flight duty (University of Leicester, 2013). Effects of Fatigue on the aviation Staff Among the aircrew, fatigue affects their alertness and judgement which are very critical in the profession (Jackson and Earl, 2006).

It is a very critical aspect within the aviation sector which is associated with sleep loss and shift work. Goode (2003) opines that pilots having to endure long duty cycles make them inattentive, careless and inefficient. The aircrew staffs have the tendency to experience loss or disturbance of sleep, having irregular work-rest cycles, trans-meridian flights and various job-related factors arising from fatigue (University of Leicester, 2013). Therefore, the challenges brought about by fatigue calls for management through understanding the relationship that exists between working conditions and fatigue.

NASA Aviation Reporting System indicates that 21% of all reported aviation incidents are related to fatigue (NRC, 2011). This problem has been termed as an on-going one facing pilots flying all sized aircrafts causing many accidents globally. This is a problem that is not affected by motivation, professionalism, status or training (Jackson and Earl, 2006). Rather, it is rooted in the well-being of the pilot, either physically or psychologically. Thus, there is need to evaluate this aspect of fatigue and its effects in the aviation industry in order to come up with findings that would help to considerably bring down the accidents occurring due to fatigue.

There is need for strategies to be put in place outlining the minimum rest requirement for pilots and flight attendants. Further, all aircrew and other staff in the control room, as well as engineering maintenance department require enough rest in order to work effectively (Goode, 2003). The U.S. Federal Aviation Regulation (FARS) indicates that pilots and flight attendants require at least nine hours of rest following any scheduled duty period (NRC, 2011). The U.S. Congress in the summer of 2010 directed the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to update regulations governing pilot flight duty time, while taking into account recent research that relates to sleep and fatigue (NRC, 2011).

The Congress also directed FAA to establish a National Academy of Sciences to carry out a study on the effects of commuting on pilot fatigue. This brings up the essence of establishing the effects of fatigue in the aviation industry in respect to discussing policies, economic and regulatory issues affecting pilot commuting (Jackson and Earl, 2006).

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