Getting To Know Fatigue Pilots, Flying Rules, And How To Overcome Them

Pilot illustration (Pixabay)

YOGYAKARTA Getting to know the pilot fatigue can be understood from an example of a recent flight case, where Batik Air pilot fell asleep while flying. The case is not only the focus of Batik Air airline but also reaps the attention of the National Transportation Safety Committee (KNKT), to aviation observers.

This article will explain what fatigue pilots are, from rules, how to prevent, to lurking dangers.

Simply put, pilot fatigue is a condition where the pilot experiences fatigue. There are many factors that trigger the pilot of commercial airlines to experience fatigue such as lack of sleep, maintained for a long time, disturbances in the circuitdian rhythm, and demands for workloads.

Fatigue conditions can indeed be experienced by anyone with any profession, including the pilot. One of the triggers for the pilot to experience fatigue is the rhythm of the sirkadian. This disturbance can occur due to night shifts or changes in the time zone that trigger fatigue to decreased vigilance and pilot performance including during the flight.

Apart from the disturbance of the sirkadian rhythm, the fatigue pilot can also occur because the workload is too heavy. This means that the pilot can take too many hours flying beyond the recommended duration.

Quoted from the Indonesian Ministry of Transportation, the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) has determined that the maximum flight hours of a pilot within 7 days are 30 hours, while the maximum flight hours in one month are 110 hours, and one year 1050 hours of flying hours.

For example, on the 6th day a pilot already has 29 hours of flight hours. In order not to exceed the flight hours, the pilot must refuse to fly on the 7th day because it will exceed the maximum limit set for a month. The pilot must refuse if the airline asks him to keep flying on the 7th day.

Quoted from the sciconline site, pilot fatigue during flight can be handled in two types of ways, namely non-pharmacology and pharmacology. The non-pharmacological method is done without involving drugs, namely in the following way.

Pilots can ask for permission to take turns for a short sleep as long as there are two pilots on one plane. This rule is also implemented by airlines such as Air Canada and British Airways.

Pilots also have to do light physical exercise to increase stamina, improve posture, and so on regularly.

Pilots must also be able to arrange bedtime, eat, and must get enough sunlight in the morning. This habit will help improve performance.

Meanwhile, the pharmacological method is to involve drugs. In this case, pilots can use sleeping pills to treat sleep disorders if they feel lacking. To get hypnotic drugs, it is recommended to consult a doctor first.

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