Pilot fatigue: Unions warn of ‘hidden crisis’ as pilots admit to napping during flights
A new survey from Germany has revealed the extent to which pilot tiredness and fatigue have become part of the job.
The poll, carried out by the Vereinigung Cockpit union, found that an overwhelming 93% of respondents had taken in-seat rest during flights in recent months.
The union, which represents around 10,000 pilots, said the practice is no longer occasional but a “worrying reality” across the profession.
The details underline just how common the issue has become: 12% of pilots said they took rest on every flight, while 44% described doing so regularly and a further third said they do so occasionally.
Vereinigung Cockpit vice-president Katharina Dieseldorff said what was once meant as a short-term recovery technique has become a permanent feature of cockpit life.
She pointed to staffing shortages, busy schedules and growing operational pressure, particularly over the summer months, as factors creating a workforce that is affected by fatigue.
“A short nap in itself is not critical,” she said. “But a permanently exhausted cockpit crew is a significant risk.”
The scale of the admissions has reinforced a concern already voiced by flight crew across Europe: fatigue is no longer an exception.
Europe’s hidden pilot fatigue crisis
Earlier this year, the European Cockpit Association (ECA) described the issue as “Europe’s hidden pilot fatigue crisis”.
In its own survey of thousands of pilots across the continent, the association found that three out of four had experienced microsleeps – a momentary lapse in consciousness – while flying in the previous month, with a quarter saying it had happened five or more times.
Nearly three-quarters said they were not getting sufficient rest between duties.
The ECA has warned that existing rules are being stretched further than they should be.
One practice in particular has come under scrutiny: “Commander’s Discretion.” Intended to be used rarely and only in exceptional circumstances, this allows flight duty periods to be extended by the captain when unexpected delays occur.
In reality, many pilots report that it has become a routine tool, ECA said, with crews feeling pressured to accept longer duty hours.
While the regulations technically allow them to refuse, the fear of being labelled uncooperative or unreliable means most go along with it, said Paul Reuter, ECA Vice President.
What fatigue does to pilots
Research has long shown that fatigue impairs alertness, slows reaction times and weakens decision-making.
The US Federal Aviation Administration notes that tired pilots are less able to monitor instruments, respond to sudden events or maintain situational awareness.
Importantly, no amount of caffeine, motivation or experience can overcome the physiological limits of the body, the FAA stresses.
Causes are varied. Disrupted circadian rhythms from overnight flying or rapid time zone changes, cumulative sleep loss, and high-frequency schedules with minimal turnaround times all contribute.
Commuting, early starts and late finishes often cut further into already limited rest opportunities.
Over time, even shortfalls of an hour or two each night build into a serious performance deficit, experts say.
The way forward
Pilot associations argue that a rethink is needed at multiple levels: stricter enforcement of rest rules, more realistic scheduling with buffers for delays, and company cultures that allow crew to report fatigue without stigma.
Fatigue risk management systems are being promoted as one solution, designed to monitor rosters, flag risks and encourage mitigation before safety is compromised.
Japan Airlines is one carrier that treats crew fatigue as a critical safety risk.
Its Fatigue Risk Management System applies to both flight and cabin crew and is legally mandated by the Japan Civil Aviation Bureau.
JAL collects and analyses data on crew fatigue, implements corrective actions, and bases its policy on scientific insight and performance metrics.
Crews are required to be “fit-for-duty,” and if they experience strong drowsiness during duty, they can submit a fatigue report.
The company then conducts factor analysis, risk assessments, and can revise duty schedules as needed.
Training and education about fatigue and sleep are also central, with shared responsibility between management and crew.
“Safety is often seen as a given – well-maintained engines, rigorous security checks, smart cockpit design. But the greatest safety feature on any flight are the two people flying it,” concludes ECA Vice President Reuter.
“If we ignore the mental and physical limits of our flight crews, no amount of engineering will save us from the consequences.”
