0206 Landing Pilot Sleep - Is Third Break the Best Choice for Recuperation?. (27th April 2018)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Lamp, A C; McCullough, D U; Brown, R E; Gregory, K B; Flynn-Evans, E E; Belenky, G
• Is Part Of: Sleep. Volume 41(2018)Supplement 1
• Page Start: A80
• Page End: A80
• Publication Date: 2018-04-27
• Subjects: Sleep -- Physiological aspects -- Periodicals; Sleep disorders -- Periodicals; Sommeil -- Aspect physiologique -- Périodiques; Sommeil, Troubles du -- Périodiques; Sleep disorders; Sleep -- Physiological aspects; Sleep -- physiological aspects; Sleep Wake Disorders; Psychophysiology; Electronic journals; Periodicals; 616.8498
• DOI: 10.1093/sleep/zsy061.205
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0161-8105

Abstract

Abstract: Introduction: In commercial aviation, for augmented crews (in this study 3-pilot crews) the pilot landing the aircraft is required by the US Federal Aviation Administration to have two consecutive hours of inflight rest in the second half of the flight duty period. For 3-pilot augmented crews only the third inflight break complies with the regulation but the third inflight break may not be as recuperative as the second inflight break. We compared the second versus third inflight breaks as predictors of fatigue and sleepiness to determine whether the second inflight break provides equivalent or better alertness than the third inflight break. Methods: Data on self-reported fatigue and sleepiness were analyzed in 265 United Airlines landing pilots flying augmented flights with flight duty periods under 14 hours (144 second break; 121 third break). Self-reported fatigue and sleepiness were measured at top of descent with the Samn-Perelli Fatigue Scale (SP) and the Karolinska Sleepiness Scale (KSS) and evaluated in an unpaired comparison of the second versus third inflight breaks. Taking the second inflight break was deemed to provide equivalent or better alertness than taking the third inflight break if it was non-inferior on the SP and KSS. Results: Self-reported fatigue and sleepiness in landing pilots taking the second inflight break were non-inferior to landing pilots taking the third inflight break. Conclusion: Landing pilots taking the second inflight break were equal to or better than landing pilots taking the third inflight break on self-reported fatigue and sleepiness. The data supports allowing landing pilots the choice of taking the second or third inflight break during all augmented flights with flight duty periods under 14 hours. Support (If Any): The study was supported by United Airlines.