source::::: silicon india net.
Natarajan
They are people who are just too afraid to get on a plane and then there are also people who not just take a chance while flying but also endanger their and others lives, by dozing off while maneuvering a plane. As per a recent survey more than 50 percent of airline pilots confessed that they have accidentally fallen asleep behind the controls while flying a jet plane.
The 2012 survey, Pilot Fatigue Barometer put forth the jeopardy caused by fatigue in the aviation industry, experienced by pilots and cabin crew. The study put together by the association members of European Cockpit Association (ECA) compiled between 2010 and 2012, by interviewing 6,000 European pilots to self assess the amount of fatigue they felt while on job.
The survey also stated that pilot fatigue is quite common, it posses massive threat and is underreported in the industry largely in Europe.
As said by many of the pilots that when they felt too tiered at work they chose to be discreet about it to avoid the disciplinary actions that will be taken by the company. The report said “Only 20 to 30 percent of the pilots would actually file a report if feeling too tired on duty.”
There have been occasions when the flying chiefs have woken up from their cockpit nap and found their colleagues have dozed off next to them while flying.
After the 1944 Chicago Convention, fatigue has been recognized as a risk factor to safe flying operations. As fatigue and exhaustion can occur in case of a healthy individual, nevertheless it effects performance and decreases concentration which cannot be ignored making it a hazard to safety.
The reason to feel exhausted and tried is linked to the long work hours, unlikely shift hours leading to insufficient sleep and rest. As per the research it has been proved that tried pilots have more chances to make mistakes when caught in a critical situation. There are reasons to believe even when pilots feel ‘dead tired’ after a long day they are required to be completely alert to make important decisions. Even concentration and making a safe landing becomes a hard task when pilots stay awake for long hours.
Accidents and incidents like Colgan Air in 2009, Air India Express 2010 and the most recent in 2012, an Air Berlin plane which requested emergency landing due to pilot fatigue in Munich prove it can be fatal.
Research have labeled fatigue to be the major factor leading to accidents or incidents where there is no potential evidence to count on.
On 14 May 2012 over 300 pilots and cabin crew across Europe gathered at the European Aviation Safety Agency in Cologne, to express their concerns over the proposed EU law on the Flight Time Limitation, which must be directed towards preventing safety risks related to air crew fatigue.
The survey conducted was to illustrate the range of the problem caused by fatigue. As said by ECA spokesperson, “The only way to recover from fatigue is to get adequate rest. A reality check shows however that this remedy is not a solution for many pilots across Europe.” He added, “Long duty and standby hours, night flights and disruptive schedules often result in long times awake, sleep deprivation and are followed by insufficient rest and poor sleep opportunities.”
The survey showed that 92 percent of the pilots in Germany felt too tiered or unfit to fly at least once in the last three years while on flight deck. This was experienced by 85 percent of pilots in Austria, two third of them experienced the condition more than once. In Sweden the poll shows 89 percent and in Danish 93 percent of pilots felt fatigue on the deck. It means that 2 out of 3 pilots suffer from fatigue and exhaustion over the period of two to three years of flying.
Everyone has experienced exhaustion, and there isn’t any other remedy available then a good amount of sleep. However it is much preferred when practiced in places that won’t involve any catastrophes, unlike the cockpit perhaps. And for those who are planning to get on the jet plane next time, hope you don’t insist on making visits to the to the cabin to say ‘Just checking’ to the captains.
Take off with Natarajan 