Subjective Fatigue of C-141 Aircrews during Operation Desert Storm

Abstract

Airlift crews were exposed to extended work periods, reduced sleep periods, night work, and circadian dysrhythmia caused by shift work and time-zone crossings during Operations Desert Shield and Desert Storm. This research reveals the extent to which severe subjective fatigue was experienced by the crews during Operation Desert Storm. In addition, through the evaluation of long-term and short-term work and sleep histories, this research shows that recent sleep and flight histories are correlated with high fatigue levels. Furthermore, we found a tendency for fatigue to correspond with pilot error. We recommend that the training of personnel involved in long-duration operations include fatigue management strategies and, further, that work policies and environments be designed to take into account the importance of regular and restorative sleep when unusual duty hours are required.

Effect of 24 Hours of Sleep Deprivation on Auditory and Linguistic Perception: A Comparison Among Young Controls, Sleep-Deprived Participants, Dyslexic Readers, and Aging Adults

“…Earlier studies mainly tested verbal performance and articulation and found them to be negatively impacted by sleep deprivation (Harrison & Horne, 1998;Neville, Bison, French, & Boll, 1994;Schein, 1957). These findings are also supported by more recent studies (Bagnall, Dorrian, & Fletcher, 2011;Krajewski, Batliner, & Golz, 2009;Liu & Wissow, 2011;Orzeł-Gryglewska, 2010).…”

The Effects of Sleep Deprivation on Flight Performance, Instrument Scanning, and Physiological Arousal in Pilots

“…For example, the mean percentage change in RMSE was 4.8% from the five early to the five late flights, but two pilots showed changes of greater than 30% and three pilots actually showed improvements in flight performance from the early to later flights. The existence of individual differences in "fatigue resistance" has long been noted in the literature and has been attributed mostly to recent sleep history (Caldwell et al, 2005;Neville, Bisson, French, Boll, & Storm, 1994), baseline arousal (Caldwell et al, 2005), or personality factors such as introversion that may be linked to higher levels of baseline arousal (May & Kline, 1987;Smith & Mabien, 1993). Although we did not observe any correlation between flight performance decrements and recent sleep history as measured by FAST, it should be stressed that the data concerning sleep length and quality that we entered into the FAST model were based on pilots' self-reports and not on objective measures.…”

Fatigue Countermeasures in Aviation

“…U.S. Air Force F-15 pilots in Operation Desert Storm indicated that around-the-clock task demands, minimal rest periods, consecutive duty days, circadian disruptions, and sleep deprivation were commonplace ( 58 ), as did F-16 pilots ( 189 , 190 ). U.S. Air Force C-141 pilots in Operation Desert Storm likewise complained that insuffi cient sleep and lengthy fl ight times were primarily responsible for increased fatigue ( 147 ).…”