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1 Introduction
Pages 11-20

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From page 11...
... added "Reduce Accidents and Incidents Caused by Human Fatigue in the Aviation Industry" to its list of most wanted aviation safety improvements two decades ago. Specifically, the NTSB called for research, education, and revisions to regulations related to work and duty hours.
From page 12...
... commuting policies of commercial air carriers (including passenger and all-cargo air carriers) , including pilot checkin requirements and sick leave and fatigue policies; (5)
From page 13...
... on September 14, 2010 -- with a broad scope encompassing all aspects of pilot flight, duty, and rest requirements -- inviting public comment that would be considered in issuing final regulations (Federal Aviation Administration, 2010c) .2 This study is intended to inform the component of those final regulations that are relevant to pilot commuting.
From page 14...
... This report incorporates much of the interim report as background information.3 INFORMATION COLLECTION There is extensive research -- including research specific to the aviation industry -- on alertness, fatigue, sleep, and circadian rhythms; cognitive and physiological performance; and safety. However, there is very little information specifically on pilot commuting, including commuting practices or airline policies and practices related to commuting.
From page 15...
... U • nternational Federation of Airline Pilots Association I AIRLINE-RELATED ASSOCIATIONS • A ir Transport Association • C argo Airline Association • I nternational Air Transport Association • N ational Air Carrier Association • N ational Air Transport Association • N ational Business Aviation Association • R egional Air Cargo Carriers Association • R egional Airline Association INDEPENDENT SAFETY-RELATED ORGANIZATIONS • ir Travelers Association A • light Safety Foundation F at open meetings held in November and December 2010 and February 2011: see Appendix B for the public meeting agendas. The committee also considered information from the following sources: • a review of NTSB reports on aviation accidents to identify available information related to the contribution of commuting to flight crew fatigue; • a review of confidential reports that mentioned commuting or fa tigue that were submitted to the aviation safety reporting system (ASRS)
From page 16...
... the characteristics of commuting by pilots, including distances traveled, time zones crossed, time spent, and methods used; C. he impact of commuting on pilot fatigue; t D whether and, if so, how the commuting policies and/or practices of commer cial air carriers (including passenger and all-cargo air carriers)
From page 17...
... . Reported failings from fatigued pilots "have included procedural errors, unstable approaches, lining up with the wrong runway, and landing without clearances" (Federal Aviation Administration, 2010c, p.
From page 18...
... The airline industry, the FAA, and other stakeholders have not adopted a uniform definition of pilot "commuting." Airlines vary in their definitions and some airlines that provided commuting policies to the committee do not formally define it, although these policies are generally intended for pilots who live far enough away that they have to fly to their domicile to begin duty. The NPRM notes a reference from the British aviation safety agency
From page 19...
... Also, long distance air commutes that cross time zones have the potential to exacerbate fatigue for a commuting pilot by disrupting the sleep-wake cycle, depending on the time of day, direction of travel, and other characteristics of the flights operated after the commute. Yet, in some situations, the crossing of time zones potentially can mitigate the fatigue from a combined commute and flight duty period.
From page 20...
... The chapter concludes with a discussion of aviation industry characteristics that are relevant to the effects of commuting on pilot fatigue, including airline pilot hiring policies; airline crew schedules and pilot work patterns; airline route networks and crew basing; and competitive and external factors. Chapter 3 provides background information on aviation safety, including sources of safety improvement, followed by an analysis of information on fatigue-related aviation accidents from reports by the NTSB.


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