OK-19-1858 6/18/2020
Provided by
Aerospace Medical Education Division, AAM-400
To see our YouTube video on
Fatigue and Flying in Alaska, go to
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UACJlE829Rk
To obtain copies of this brochure online:
http://www.faa.gov/pilots/safety/pilotsafetybrochures/
or contact:
Federal Aviation Administration
Aviation Safety
Civil Aerospace Medical Institute
AAM-400
P .O. Box 25082
Oklahoma City, OK 73125
(405) 954-4831
Alaska Accidents
& Fatigue
Why is fatigue so dangerous for
pilots in Alaska?
Alaska is known for its varied and rugged
landscape. Along with temperamental weather
and extremely long summer days, Alaskan aviation
represents some of the most difficult flying in the
U.S., if not the world.
Research conducted by the Civil Aerospace
Medical Institute (CAMI) has shown that increasing
levels of fatigue can manifest in increased skill-
based, decision-based, and perceptual errors.
Combined with the rugged conditions, fatigue puts
Alaskan pilots at even greater risk.
In another CAMI study, pilots 45-59 years of
age with a third-class medical certificate were at
significantly increased odds of having an accident
compared to other age groups. This same age
group tends to be at a higher risk of developing
obstructive sleep apnea, which can also contribute
significantly to pilot fatigue.
So how should Alaskan pilots
avoid fatigue-related errors?
Pilots should strive for 8 hours of sleep per day,
even when it’s still light outside, use caffeine
strategically to enhance performance, take short
10-to-20-minute naps before or after flights, and
discuss any sleep problems with a physician.
For more information, contact your FAASTeam
representative:
http://www.faasafety.gov
Post Crash Survival Training
for Pilots
What you will learn: basic knowledge and skills
for coping with common survival scenarios and
hands-on practice on how to assemble and use a
personal survival kit. If you are interested in taking
a one-day survival course at the Civil Aeromedical
Institute in Oklahoma City, you can sign up here:
https://www.faa.gov/go/survival