Survey finds cockpit microsleeps among three quarters of European pilots
A survey of nearly 7,200 European airline pilots found widespread fatigue: three quarters said they had experienced microsleeps in the cockpit during the previous four weeks. The European Cockpit Association says pilots’ reluctance to report exhaustion, amid concerns about punishment and pressure to extend shifts, raises potential safety risks.
More than 30 per cent said they did not get enough sleep to avoid fatigue, and half reported flying while they should not have because of fatigue in the preceding three months. Nearly half feared penalties for reporting themselves unfit, while only 11.9 per cent trusted their airline’s fatigue reporting system. Pilots are legally required to report fatigue and must not fly when unfit.
In short
- Three quarters reported cockpit microsleeps.
- Half said fatigue had led them to fly when they should not.
- Nearly half feared penalties for reporting exhaustion.
Explained simply
Pilots need enough rest to stay alert during flights, where they monitor aircraft systems and respond to changing conditions. A microsleep is a brief, involuntary episode of sleep that can happen when someone is very tired.
The European Cockpit Association represents pilots across Europe and has raised concerns about fatigue and whether pilots feel able to report it. Airlines and regulators set rules for rest and working hours, while pilots are required to say when they are too tired to fly.
Fatigue matters because reduced alertness can affect a pilot’s ability to carry out safety duties. Reporting systems are intended to help airlines identify and manage fatigue, but they depend on pilots feeling able to use them.
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Originally published by Daily Mail as “Three quarters of European airline pilots admit they have fallen asleep in the cockpit”.