An Eye-Opening Look at Fatigue – the Silent Killer

by Ted Delanghe

Most people can identify with having ‘the nods’ while driving a car. You’ve been on the road for hours on end, with droopy eyes and sleepy time just around the next bend. Your eyes close for just a few seconds, your head drops forward, then jerks upright with a startled look like you just won the lottery, which in a way you did if you are still alive and didn’t have an accident during your mini-siesta at 60 mph.

I am sure that if you took a poll among ag pilots with a number of years experience, you would find quite a few who have had these ‘microsleeps’ while flying, either enroute to and from a field, or perhaps even during an actual spray run. While these episodes are the most obvious result of a big dose of fatigue, they are only part of a much larger menu of serious consequences.

A Potent Mixture of Physical and Mental Strain

When it comes to accident investigations, fatigue is frequently cited as a contributing factor to pilot error, with effects including reduced attention span, loss of concentration, and a decrease in coordination, all being skills required for safe flight. These factors can also hinder the decision making process, critically important at typical ag aviation altitudes and airspeeds.

Physical fatigue can result from a variety of factors such as loss of sleep or any type of physically demanding activities. Mental fatigue can be the result of factors such as working long hours in a stressful environment, constant decision making, or an overcommitment in terms of what can realistically be accomplished in a given time. Sound familiar?

Acute and Chronic – Take Your Pick

Fatigue can also be categorized as either acute or chronic, the first being short term and easily dealt with through rest and an appropriate amount of sound sleep. Chronic fatigue is built up over a longer period of time and may require medical attention to alleviate its effects. In both cases the consequences are considerable.

The FAA’s brochure Fatigue In Aviation states “Fatigue is a condition characterized by increased discomfort with lessened capacity for work, reduced efficiency of accomplishment, loss of power or capacity to respond to stimulation, and is usually accompanied by a feeling of weariness and tiredness.” It is not difficult to imagine that putting all these factors together is a recipe for disaster.

It’s very important to realize that fatigue should not be misconstrued as just being a bit tired. Instead it is a combination of physical and mental exhaustion that can prevent you from safely and effectively completing your job, whatever that may be. It can also lead to a person being short tempered, irritable, having difficulty concentrating on the job at hand, and missing checklist items. All are warning signs that you need to proactively tackle the problem before it becomes a major incident or accident.

Too Fatigued to Fly?

So how do you deal with the very serious consequences of fatigue? It starts with the knowledge that one of the most insidious aspects is how it creeps into operations in a subtle way, slowly accumulating until it becomes a major contributing factor in an accident or incident. Because of this ‘sly and crafty’ nature, having a number of objective signposts alerting you to the gradual onset of fatigue is a good way to start.

Fly at an exact altitude to and from the field. On every flight record details such as up and down times, acres treated, load size, etc. Alternate landings between wheel and three point. Fly an exact airspeed on final. Whenever you note you have missed an item or notice a slide in performance, you know you’re falling into the well of fatigue. It’s time to stop flying, take a break, and do whatever is required to get you back into safe and effective operations.

As with many things, an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. Ensure your sleeping arrangements are quiet, comfortable and free from distractions. Try to get at least seven to eight hours of sleep every night. Take a break mid-day and get a half hour of shuteye. Ensure you are eating healthy. Avoid caffeine within six hours of going to bed.

A Culture of Safety

Above all else maintain a culture of safety, especially important when you have a lineup of farmers pounding at your door during a sudden

and severe crop infestation, where the stress to push the boundaries of wind, weather and safety can be considerable. Keep in mind that a bent airplane doesn’t cover near as many acres as an intact one.

FAA Fatigue in Aviation brochure available for download at: http://www.faa.gov/pilots/safety/ pilotsafetybrochures/

Ted Delanghe is a former Canadian Air Force pilot turned ag pilot, having flown more than 50 aircraft types from ultralights to fighters, including a wide range of ag aircraft. He resides in Regina, Saskatchewan, where he is also a business consultant with a specific focus on aviation and aerospace.